This page last updated: January 23, 2025

A variety of research is being undertaken within BDIAL by Dr. Hoppa and his graduate students, as well as other faculty members in the Department of Anthropology. Additional research projects through partnerships with faculty and researchers in other departments and at other institutions are also on-going.

RECENT PROJECTS

Reconsidering Old Age in Medieval Denmark: New Palaeodemographic Reconstructions.

Dr Hoppa is working with Dr. Jesper Boldsen (Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark) and Dr. George Milner (Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University) on looking at the older adults in Medieval Denmark, examining differences in trauma, palaeopathology and overall health and well-being for those who live the longest.

Two MA students and 3 PhD students at the University of Manitoba were involved in this project for their thesis research.

(Research supported by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada).

A Morphometric Assessment of Osteological Indicators of Personal Reconstruction from CT Data

Dr Hoppa and Dr. Niels Lynnerup (Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen) collaborated on a project that examines methods of estimating age and sex from the human skeleton using a documented, forensic CT dataset. Forensic medical imaging data provides a unique opportunity to examine non-invasively, the age related changes in various area of the skeleton and assess the accuracy of sexual dimorphic traits relative to known sex. The real benefit for this approach for refining age estimation techniques for both archaeological and forensic applications is the ability to make use of reference material non-invasively from modern data. Two MA students (completed) and 1 PhD student at the University of Manitoba are currently involved in this project for their thesis research.

(Research supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program; SSHRC; Manitoba Graduate Scholarships; University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships).

An Assessment of the Paranasal Sinuses for Personal Identification using Data

Sarah Richer is exploring the frontal sinuses for assessing personal individuality in forensic anthropology. The project is validating, using a documented sex CT database, several previously published methods for individualization. In addition, this project is exploring geometric morphometric approaches to techniques for personal identification from the sinuses.

(Research supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council; University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships; Canada Research Chairs Program).

Akhmim Facial Reconstruction Project

Dr. Robert Hoppa is working with Dr. Jonathan Elias of the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium. The BDIAL is involved in editing CT scans of several Egyptian mummies to produce 3D models of the skulls using the ZCorp 3D printer. Dr. Elias’ team used the models for facial reconstruction. Below is an image of five facial reconstructions of Akhmim mummies by Frank Bender, based on 3D printed skulls for the CT renderings. See also Wrapped: the Mummy of Pesed exhibit currently at the Manitoba Museum.

(Research supported in part by Canada Research Chairs Program).

Cementum Annulations in Human Teeth

Lisa Lefever’s MA thesis research examined the structure and biochemical make-up of cementum annulations in human teeth. This research is part of larger project using a sample of modern, documented teeth to explore methodological approaches to osteological studies from dental tissues.

(Research supported by Canada Research Chairs Program).

3D Printing of an Ancient Egyptian Mummy

In collaboration with Dr. Jonathan Elias and the Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium, Dr. Hoppa and his students rendered and used 3DP to create a full scale model of the upper torso of an Akhmimic mummy - both the wrappings and the skeleton itself. This is the first use, as far as we know, of 3DP to produce, from CT scans of an intact mummy, full scale representations of the underlying body. The models were incorporated into the COSI Columbus exhibit "Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science." (Lost Egypt website).

(Research supported by Canada Research Chairs Program).

3D Printing of Human Biological Structures for Student Learning

Dr. Hoppa and Dr. T Klonisch (Human Anatomy and Cell Sciences) are using the 3D printing technology in the BDIAL to develop innovative 3D models and training materials for the field of human anatomy and biology.

(Research supported by University of Manitoba Strategic Program Development Fund)

3D Printing of an Ancient Egyptian Mummified Foetus

Dr. Hoppa was approached by Dr. Tosha Dupras (University of Central Florida) and Dr. Matthew Tocheri (Smithsonian Institution) in order to reproduce a model of the youngest (developmentally) known mummified foetus in the world. The mummy, excavated from the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, dates to the 4th century AD (Roman Period). Data from CT scans of the mummy performed at the Smithsonian Institution were rendered into a 3D model and then replicated using the Z406 3D printer in the lab. A detailed analysis of the remains was presented at the 6th World Congress on Mummy Studies in the Canary Islands, Spain (Dupras et al., 2007).

Dupras TL, Tocheri MW, Shin Y (2007) The Youngest Mummy? A Naturally Mummified Fetus from the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. World Congress on Mummy Studies, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain. Feb 2007.

Establishment of a Digital Archive of the C. Thomas Shay Archaeobotanical Collection

Dr. Hoppa and Dr. Monks undertook a pilot project to digitize and make available on the web, a sample of the C. Thomas Shay Archaeobotanical Collection. This provides a quick virtual reference collection for anyone wanting to access the images from the web, and highlight the research potential of this unique resource at the University of Manitoba. Click here to images from the pilot project.

(Research supported by a Manitoba Heritage Grant; University of Manitoba)

3D Modeling of Archaeological Artifacts

The BDIAL has worked with Wind River Research Services to scan artifacts. These are from archaeological investigations on the Winnipeg River for the "Reconstructing Environmental and Cultural Adaptation Project", which aims to provide an interpretive exhibit and edukit for students and visitors to the Selkirk Healing Centre. The 3D models are being used for both virtual representations (click [1], [2], or [3]) and to produce 3D replicas of the artifacts. Left, we see a comparison of the original and a 3D replica printed using the Z406 3D printer in the BDIAL.

Myra Sitchon has worked with the Manitoba Museum, exploring the role of 3D laser scanning and modeling of artifacts for conservation. This pot is an example of a laser scanning project done at the museum.

Kevin Brownlee’s MA thesis research included the experimental reproduction of bone and antler tools from the Victoria Bay site in Manitoba. Wear patterns on the artifacts was examined following their use in a variety of tasks. In addition, working with Myra Sitchon, 3D laser scans of some of the reproductions were made in order to better understand the cross-sectional geometry of the artifacts.

(Research supported by C Thomas Shay Scholarship).

3D Printing in Human Osteology

One area of research being undertaken in the BDIAL by Dr. Hoppa and his students is how 3D printing can contribute to anthropological analyses. A variety of projects presented here are making use of the 3D printing technology in the lab.

Travis Allard worked with the Mennonite Heritage Village to produce 3D scan data for the human skeletal remains from the Kleefeld site, curated and analysed by Dr. Chris Meiklejohn and Dr. Deborah Merrett at the University of Winnipeg. The BDIAL’s 3D printing technology was used to create physical replicas of these data that are part of the museum display. This project is part of Travis Allard’s MA thesis research.

(Research supported by Z-Corp, CRC, Manitoba Heritage).

3D Modeling of Iron Age Bog Bodies

Heather Gill-Robinson’s doctoral thesis research included medical imaging of several Iron Age Bog Bodies from the Archäologische Landesmuseum, Schloss Gottorf, Schleswig, Germany. These data have formed the basis for continuing research on 3D modeling and virtual reconstruction of the bog bodies. The BDIAL’s 3D printing technology has been used to produce 3D models of some of the remains for the museum

(Research supported by DAAD, University of Manitoba, CRC).

3D Modeling of Architectural Structures

Work with Patrick Harrop in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba has explored the use of the BDIAL’s 3D laser scanner to collect 3D point cloud data from architectural design casts. These point cloud data can then be used to edit and further model the geometry of the design features.

The Eriksdale Site: A Piece of Manitoba Heritage

With the support of the Lake Manitoba First Nation, a bioarchaeological assessment of the human remains and associated artifacts from the Eriksdale site was undertaken. Click here to see the poster presented at the 2002 CAA conference.

(Research supported by Manitoba Heritage, SSHRC, CRC)

Use of X-ray CT to Study the Morphology of Airpaths Inside Grain Bulks

Suresh Raja Neethirajan used software in the BDIAL to undertake image analysis of X-ray CT data to explain the airflow resistance difference along the horizontal and vertical directions of grain bulks. 3D models are being studied for the morphology of airpaths inside grain bulks. These models will help to visualize the airpaths and the pore space inside the seed bulks and will help in predicting the movement of insect behaviour and the airflow resistance inside the seed bulk. This research formed the basis of his MSc in Biosystems Engineering under Dr. Digvir Jayas, Canada Research Chair in Stored-Grain Ecosystems.

(Research supported by CRC)