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

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

COMPIEGNE

Website

https://www.utc.fr/formations/ecole-doctorale-sciences-pour-lingenieur.html

Street

Centre de Recherches

E-Mail

[email protected]

STATUS: EXPIRED