The Iceman under Pressure (Part 1): A Description of Skull Deformations due to 5100 Years or Glacial Action.

Hermann Prossinger, Horst Seidler, David S Weaver, Katrin Schäfer, Martin Fieder, Gerhard Weber

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Due to its long deposition in the glacier, the 'Iceman' (an ice-mummy from the Hauslabjoch) has been deformed, notably its skull. We introduce various comparative methods that describe these deformations, assuming they can be ascribed - to a large extent - to glacial action. While pressure is a scalar, the deformations must be described via a 2-tensor strain field (which can be represented by a matrix function value at every point throughout the skull). In this paper, we present the assumed deformations in numerous graphical forms and, furthermore, the limitations in interpretation - including an estimate of statistical variability - that can be revealed by this analysis. These methods, although describing the results of glacial action and implying a 2-tensor strain field (which will be presented in a subsequent paper), do not permit a straightforward reconstruction of the original, undeformed skull. These methods have wider applications to the general problem of deformation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)345-367
Number of pages23
JournalCollegium Antropologicum
Volume23
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 1999

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 106018 Human biology
  • 1060 Biology

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