Scanner examines ancient footprints

A British geoarchaeologist is revealing detailed information about the foot anatomy and gait of ancient human species using optical laser scanners.

Matthew Bennett, a professor of environmental and geographical sciences at Bournemouth University, demonstrated how optical laser scanners can be used to capture the morphology of ancient footprints to within a fraction of a millimetre.

He claims that his geoarchaeology team is the first to use the scanning technology on an excavation site. According to Bennett, the scanners are usually housed in controlled environments because their red lights can be easily bleached from sunlight.

His team designed a rig made of carbon fibre to control the light and dust that can affect the scanners’ performance.

Once a site is excavated to reveal footprints, the generator-powered device is systematically moved across the surface. Along the way, it scans the prints and produces points of the surface.

The prints are then taken back to a laboratory to post process the point clouds. Images of the footprints are then produced and analysed using software developed at Liverpool University.