A reconstructive study of the late Miocene Yamula Dam Carnivor

This study focuses on a Carnivora fossil found in the Yamula Dam in Kayseri, dated to the Late Miocene Epoch. In order to reconstruct the anatomical integrity of the Carnivora fossil, a digital reconstruction technique was used. The reconstruction was approached not only as the completion of missing bone structures, but also as an interdisciplinary method aiming to revive the ecological and morphological characteristics of the species through scientific methods. The focal point of the study is the skull fossil belonging to the species Adcrocuta eximia. In this process, the measurements made in Dimitri's study were taken as a reference to complete the missing parts. During the reconstruction process, high-resolution 3D scanning, digital cleaning, and symmetric modeling steps were used. In this process carried out with Blender software, mirror operations were applied only to ensure anatomical symmetry, and artistic or speculative interventions were carefully avoided. In the modeling stage, structures such as muscle attachment points, dental morphology, and cranial volume were taken into consideration to ensure both morphological accuracy and functional integrity. The obtained digital model was physically produced by 3D printing with PETG filament, and a three-dimensional representation of the fossil was presented. In this respect, the study demonstrates not only a paleoanthropological identification but also the applicability of fossil reconstruction through digital technologies. As a result, this thesis presents in detail the process of digitally reconstructing a carnivore from the Late Miocene Epoch, providing important clues about the paleobiological past of Anatolia and proposing an exemplary methodology on how digital reconstruction techniques can be applied with scientific accuracy.