The combined application of photogrammetric and geometric morphometric
tools to the study of archaeological remains is not usually addressed
in the academic programme of undergraduate degrees, which results in the consequent
lack of technological knowledge of future graduates. This research proposes
the inclusion of a recently developed approach based on the techniques
and tools of geomatics engineering and advanced statistical analysis in bachelor’s
degrees in Archaeology, that aim at providing students with advance skills in
several free/open software pieces, which might ultimately be particularly useful
during working or research activities. The method uses 3D model visualisation
techniques and statistical analysis based on geometric morphometrics to improve
zooarchaeological/taphonomic studies through the investigation of bone surface
modifications. The work presents a detailed description of the methodology to
be reproduced by students, as well as a specific workflow for the generation of
didactic material. The activity has been designed in a way that all the necessary
material can be provided through the Moodle institutional learning platform. The
comprehension of geomatics and geometric morphometric techniques and their
application to archaeological problems will help students address questions of
the human past from a more objective quantitative perspective. On one hand, this
might help students improve their critical thinking, and, on the other hand, this
new knowledge could help future archaeologist face the challenges of the labour
market.
