PhD Thesis: Prehistoric tool wear analysis and classification of tool use using topography multiscale analysis
14 Mar 2024
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC)- Department
Doctoral School “Sciences for the Engineer” ED71- Research Field
Engineering » Mechanical engineering
History » Archaeology- Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)- Country
France- Application Deadline
30 May 2024 - 19:00 (Europe/Paris)- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Full-time- Hours Per Week
37- Offer Starting Date
1 Oct 2024- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by an EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
Understanding the daily lives of fossil humans involves interpreting the tools (stone, bone, antler, shell) of these past users. Archaeological research has been addressing these issues for many years. As with any object (and a fortiori stone tools, which will be the focus of the project presented here), use and exposure to different agents modify the topography of the surfaces most directly accessible to the environment. Thus, observing and characterizing the traces (topographical signatures) on the surface of tools can provide clues to the processes undergone: movements performed (scraping, sawing...), materials worked on (skin, wood...).
To make the characterization and interpretation of stone tool surfaces alterations more robust, we propose to set up a method for multiscale characterization of the topography of altered surfaces using a corpus of experimental tools from different rocks (flint, quartzite, metarhyolite...) used (manually and with the aid of a tribometer) to saw or scrape different materials (bone, deer antler, reed...) with different numbers of cycles. This corpus will enable us to establish strategies for identifying and measuring areas of contact with the material being worked. Morphological indicators will then be set up to describe topographical signatures and thus move towards a classification of uses. The contributions of a classical statistical approach versus a deep learning approach will be assessed. The results will also be used to develop better excavation and post-excavation protocols to prevent alteration and better preserve traces of use on archaeological stonetools.
Requirements
- Research Field
- Engineering » Mechanical engineering
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Master's degree. Good skills in the acquisition and processing of surface topography and ideally in confocal and/or interferometric microscopy. Programming skills (R and/or Python) are required.
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Good
- Research Field
- Engineering » Mechanical engineering
Internal Application form(s) needed
Thesis Proposal - Tapho_JMarteau_ABorel .pdf
English
(102.43 KB - PDF)
Download
Additional Information
Eligibility criteria
The PhD candidate should have a Master's degree (or equivalent)
Selection process
To apply, please send your motivation letter, CV and recommandation letters to Julie MARTEAU: [email protected]
- Website for additional job details
https://www.utc.fr/formations/candidater-a-lutc/candidater-au-doctorat-utc/
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Université de technologie de Compiègne - UTC
- Country
- France
- State/Province
- Centre de recherche de Royallieu, CS 60319
- City
- Compiègne
- Postal Code
- 60203
- Street
- Rue du docteur Schweitzer
Where to apply
[email protected]
Contact
- City
COMPIEGNE- Website
https://www.utc.fr/formations/ecole-doctorale-sciences-pour-lingenieur.html- Street
Centre de Recherches
[email protected]
STATUS: EXPIRED