Andy White Anthropology
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The Kirk Project: An Update

3/17/2016

3 Comments

 
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I had some time today to upload some current Kirk Project files and do a little re-organization of the pages.  The main page is still located here, but I've split off some of the content that used to be on that page and created separate pages for datasets, a list of 3D models organized by state (so far they're all from South Carolina), embedded links to 3D models organized by ID number, and 2D images. There is nothing on the 2D image page yet, but my plan is to start adding images as I have time.

I've been steadily accumulating 3D models (there are 22 now that I've uploaded to Sketchfab). I still haven't started wrestling with them to extract usable morphometric data, but I've got a plan for a paper that will compare variability in the large, surface collected sample from Allendale County (South Carolina) to the variability present in smaller assemblages from excavated contexts (and shorter windows of time). One of those assemblages will be the Nipper Creek cache. Another (hopefully) will be the Kirk material from G. S. Lewis-East.  Hopefully I'll be able to get one or two more "narrow time window" assemblages.

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In terms of data, I've produced an updated GIS map of the current sample (n=905). It now includes several points from Pennsylvania (donated by Bill Wagner). I've also provided a file of the metric data that I have for 699 of those points. As explained on the data page, the sample of points for which metric data are available is smaller than the larger Kirk sample because I did not measure all of the points during my dissertation work (some were too fragmentary) and I have not started generating linear measurements of the points I'm adding now.  

The linear measurements have alphabetic designations (A through I, as defined in this figure). I calculated them by digitizing landmarks using a freeware package, and it was kind of a pain in the butt.  I'm hoping to find a better software package than I used before, and I plan on adding some additional 2D dimensions/angles since I won't also be dealing with lanceolate points.

I did not produce 3D models of any of the points in my dissertation dataset, as I did not have access to the equipment to do that at the time. ​

I plan on adding a "Contributors" page soon. And I hope to start incorporating more data from external sources in the dataset. I've got lines on some data from Ohio, Tennessee, and a few other areas. I would love to start filling in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.

3 Comments
Peter
3/17/2016 03:14:58 pm

Thanks for the metric outline.I am eagerly following this project.

Reply
Ken Lentz
3/17/2016 03:35:49 pm

Hi Andy,
Here is an update on solid modeling. Starting with scanned mesh, 5931_LS_0005.stl I was able to reduce the mesh size by factors of 2,4,8, and 16 using the "decimate" tool of "MeshMan"- an open source program for the manipulation of meshes. Since there were still significant mesh errors, I used "FreeCAD", open source solid modeler to analyze and repair the mesh after each decimation. After fixing the mesh to the greatest extent possible (still over 1000 errors), I exported the fixed file to another binary .stl file.

I then imported that file into InStep V2.3 which is software that converts .stl files to .stp (or .step) files which are actual solid models. InStep cost $25 for the file conversion capability only (which is all you really need). The resulting solid models still have significant errors but I was able to open the .stp file in FreeCAD.

It still remains to be seen if various views can be dimensioned and presented on a drawing sheet. (I am not very familiar with FreeCAD).

That being said, it still takes several hours to process a single file - mostly waiting for files to load and save.

I will send you a detailed report with some screenshots in a few days.

Reply
Andy White
3/18/2016 07:44:21 am

Thanks Ken. I think what would be ideal is a way to extract both (1) a set of simple linear dimensions from the models (say, by placing "pins" to identify the numeric landmarks shown in the figure above) and (2) some other characterizations of size and shape that you can get from 3D models but not 2D images. I don't yet know what kind of software exists to allow me to do (1), and I haven't yet explored the possibilities for (2). So I'm feeling my way along here. Thanks for your interest and assistance.

Reply



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