MSCA TaphArt Project - Images and 3D models of experimental samples

Data produced in the framework of the MSCA project “TaphArt: exploring the potential existence of rock art paintings in the Middle Stone Age of southern Africa and its destruction due to the action of taphonomic processes” (Grant Agreement No. 101109977, EC signature date: 7 April 2023; start date: 1 September 2023; end date: 31 August 2025). The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The project investigates the absence of Middle Stone Age rock art in southern Africa—specifically at Blombos Cave—and whether this absence is the result of taphonomic processes rather than cultural choices. It adopts an innovative, interdisciplinary approach that integrates archaeology, paleoenvironmental science, atmospheric science, material science, and analytical chemistry. This dataset brings together two complementary collections of experimental documentation: Images of experimental samples: high-resolution microscope images (.jpg) acquired with a Hirox HRX-01 3D Digital Microscope at the Institute of Solar Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR). Each experimental sample measures 5 × 5 cm and contains eight 1 × 1 cm painted panels prepared with different pictorial recipes (water + blood, water + ochre, water + milk, water + marrow, water + egg, water + fat, water + saliva, water + sap). Images were captured in three states: PRE (before accelerated ageing), POST1 (after the first ageing cycle), and POST2 (after the second ageing cycle). 3D models of experimental samples: surface models (.tdr format) of the same samples, also acquired with the Hirox HRX-01 microscope at magnifications of 20× and 40×. These models document the state of the surfaces in PRE, POST1, and POST2 conditions, providing quantitative and qualitative information about degradation processes. Together, these sub-datasets provide both 2D high-resolution images and 3D digital surface models. They serve as scientific documentation of the experimental workflow and as reusable digital resources supporting reproducibility, transparency, and future research on the taphonomy and preservation of rock art.