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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 345-367 |
Number of pages | 23 |
Journal | Collegium Antropologicum |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 1999 |
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 106018 Human biology
- 1060 Biology