MCI Project Summaries 2008 - Smithsonian Institution

MCI 6126.3 Late Pleistocene Stone Tool
MCI Staff: R. Jeff Speakman, Mel J. Wachowiak
3-D scanning and post processing of the prehistoric projectile point was carried out to
produce 3-D scan data that the requester could assess for quality and the potential for producing
precise physical replicas of these objects. Because the projectile point is over 8,000 years old, it
is important to the requestor to maintain the stone’s intrinsic research value through replication
without compromising its complex geometric angles and other diagnostic surface characteristics.
Methods for replicating stone tools have traditionally been carried out by casting a mold from the
original object. However, these established molding and casting techniques could compromise
the stone’s surface integrity through 1) excessive handling of the object and 2) by possible
surface staining or other harmful effects from the molding materials. In contrast, using 3-D
digital data collected from non-contact 3-D scanning would significantly mitigate the possibility
of damage to the object.
The decision to digitally document the projectile point at MCI by highly accurate
metrological 3-D imaging, and to archive the files at the Smithsonian, will allow for high
resolution virtual study and presentation to a much broader audience. Access to 3-D
archival records of this projectile point, as well as possible 3-D models based on the digital files,
will enhance the research value of the NMNH Paleo-Indian collection.
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