La fotogrammetria come strumento di documentazione di giacimenti osteologici complessi: il caso della Grotta dei Pietrazzi (Si/Pa 182) Sicilia, Palermo

During the topographical survey activities in the Grotta dei Pietrazzi (Si/Pa 182; Grotta della Molara Natural Reserve – Palermo), an osteological faunal deposit was found in different sectors of the cave. Since the first in situ investigations, was possible to assign most part of the remains to cervids. The finds were found both laying on the surface or partially covered by a muddy deposit. The remains had been largely washed away by the water percolating action, and in some cases covered by a thin crust of calcitic flowstone. Although the bones appeared extremely fragile due precarious preservation conditions, part of the osteological deposit it evidenced varying degreesof of anatomical connection. Due to the fragility of the samples and the difficult underground environment, it was decided to analyze the samples adopting photogrammetric methods. Through this type of investigation, it was possible to obtain three-dimensional models on which measurements, morphological comparisons and two-dimensional scale representations were carried out.