Using Digital 3D Scanning to Create “Artifictions” of the Passenger Pigeon and Harelip Sucker, Two Extinct Species in Eastern North America: The Future Examines the Past

  • Bruce L. Manzano University of Kentucky, Program for Archaeological Research, 1020A Export Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-9854.
  • Bernard K. Means Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Anthropology, Lafayette Hall Room 310, 312 North Shafer Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284-2021.
  • Christopher T. Begley Transylvania University, Department of Anthropology, Hazelrigg Hall Room 105, 300 North Broadway, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-1797.
  • Mariana Zechini University of West Florida, Division of Anthropology and Archaeology, Building 13, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32514.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.6.2.2015.368
Keywords: Skeletal elements, 3D printing, Extinct species, Passenger Pigeon, Harelip Sucker

Abstract

The Virtual Curation Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University created 3D representations of digital morphological models, termed “artifictions,” of several bone elements from two extinct animals, the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius Linnaeus Columbidae) and the harelip sucker (Moxostoma lacerum Jordan and Brayton Catostomidae). Procuring recent comparative reference skeletons these species is extremely difficult. The creation of artifictions, 3D printed replicas of skeletal remains, aims to help researchers become familiar with the bones of harelip sucker and passenger pigeon to facilitate morphological identification of remains of these species within archaeological assemblages. Here, we discuss the two species, the techniques used to create digital topological models of individual skeletal elements, and the obstacles encountered regarding 3D printed artifictions in zooarchaeology.

Author Biographies

Bruce L. Manzano, University of Kentucky, Program for Archaeological Research, 1020A Export Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-9854.

Bruce L. Manzano is Project Manager at the Program for Archaeological Research at the University of Kentucky.

Bernard K. Means, Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Anthropology, Lafayette Hall Room 310, 312 North Shafer Street, Richmond, Virginia 23284-2021.

Bernard K. Means is Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory and Professor at the School of World Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Christopher T. Begley, Transylvania University, Department of Anthropology, Hazelrigg Hall Room 105, 300 North Broadway, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-1797.

Christopher T. Begley is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Exploration Foundation at Transylvania University.

Mariana Zechini, University of West Florida, Division of Anthropology and Archaeology, Building 13, 11000 University Parkway, Pensacola, Florida 32514.

Mariana Zechini is a graduate student at the University of West Florida and completed her B.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University focusing on 3D technology in zooarchaeology.

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Ethnobiology Letters Cover, Volume 6, Issue 2, 2015
Published
2015-12-18
How to Cite
Manzano, B. L., Means, B. K., Begley, C. T., & Zechini, M. (2015). Using Digital 3D Scanning to Create “Artifictions” of the Passenger Pigeon and Harelip Sucker, Two Extinct Species in Eastern North America: The Future Examines the Past. Ethnobiology Letters, 6(2), 232-241. https://doi.org/10.14237/ebl.6.2.2015.368
Issue
Vol 6 No 2 (2015)
Section
Data, Methods & Taxonomies

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