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In the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes: A Ceramic Analysis of the Santa Cristina Site, Chinandega Nicaragua
Title
In the Land of Lakes and Volcanoes: A Ceramic Analysis of the Santa Cristina Site, Chinandega Nicaragua.
Creator
Testa, Taylor C., Brown, Clifford, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description
Nicaragua falls on the edge of what is often referred to as Mesoamerica’s “southern periphery.” Only a small amount of archaeological research has been conducted in Nicaragua, and there has been little of it in the northwestern portion of the country. Because of this, there are no local ceramic typologies or sequences which can make the identification and classification of artifacts difficult. The proposed research focuses on investigating the ceramic assemblage from the Santa Cristina...
Show moreNicaragua falls on the edge of what is often referred to as Mesoamerica’s “southern periphery.” Only a small amount of archaeological research has been conducted in Nicaragua, and there has been little of it in the northwestern portion of the country. Because of this, there are no local ceramic typologies or sequences which can make the identification and classification of artifacts difficult. The proposed research focuses on investigating the ceramic assemblage from the Santa Cristina archaeological site located in the Department of Chinandega, in northwest Nicaragua. The goal of this research will be to create a ceramic typology for the site, taking into consideration ceramic wares, groups, types, and varieties that have already been identified in other parts of Central America and defining taxa that have not been previously identified. Establishing the ceramic typology and defining taxa will help establish cultural affiliations as well as chronological markers.
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Date Issued
2020
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013496
Subject Headings
Chinandega (Nicaragua), Ceramics--Analysis, Archaeology
Format
Document (PDF)
THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND THE EVERGLADES
Title
THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF SOUTH FLORIDA: INDIGENOUS RIGHTS AND THE EVERGLADES.
Creator
Amorino, Stephen, Kirsch, Max, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description
The Miccosukee Tribe of South Florida is a federally recognized Indian tribe who reside on a reservation that lies within the Florida Everglades. As such, like many Indian tribes, their modern political history is entangled with the history of the creation of nearby national parks that were previously their traditional hunting territories. Since the beginning of the era of Everglades restoration and the rise in public policy designed to save the “River of Grass” from pollution, encroaching...
Show moreThe Miccosukee Tribe of South Florida is a federally recognized Indian tribe who reside on a reservation that lies within the Florida Everglades. As such, like many Indian tribes, their modern political history is entangled with the history of the creation of nearby national parks that were previously their traditional hunting territories. Since the beginning of the era of Everglades restoration and the rise in public policy designed to save the “River of Grass” from pollution, encroaching development, and eventual extinction, the Miccosukee have been on the front lines of trying to preserve the area they call home. While the Everglades means many different things to many different people, the Everglades to the Miccosukee Indians are the site and stakes of indigenous sovereignty. I argue that the issue of Everglades preservation is not just a matter of environmental conservation, but also a matter of fundamental human rights. Theoretically, I situate the debate surrounding the Florida Everglades within several theoretical paradigms, including the rights of indigenous peoples, the anthropology of development, and political ecology. I use anthropological research methods such as in-depth interviews with tribal officials and local environmental agencies to gain a complete picture of the current political landscape of the Everglades.
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Date Issued
2020
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013443
Subject Headings
Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Everglades (Fla. ), Indigenous rights, Indigenous peoples--Civil rights
Format
Document (PDF)
EVALUATING EVALUATION: A STATISTICAL INVESTIGATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE SAMPLING
Title
EVALUATING EVALUATION: A STATISTICAL INVESTIGATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE SAMPLING.
Creator
Simon, Danielle Ashley, Brown, Clifford T., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description
The evaluation of archaeological sites is an essential, routine, and commonplace part of archaeological practice. Evaluation is usually a preliminary step carried out prior to a decision about preservation, destruction, or more intensive investigation. In most cases, archaeologists sample sites when conducting evaluations, often to reduce the cost of the research, but also to minimize the adverse effects to sites that may be significant. The literature on sampling in archaeology, with a few...
Show moreThe evaluation of archaeological sites is an essential, routine, and commonplace part of archaeological practice. Evaluation is usually a preliminary step carried out prior to a decision about preservation, destruction, or more intensive investigation. In most cases, archaeologists sample sites when conducting evaluations, often to reduce the cost of the research, but also to minimize the adverse effects to sites that may be significant. The literature on sampling in archaeology, with a few noteworthy exceptions, does not address critical issues concerning how much to sample to achieve a valid and reliable evaluation of a site, or, alternatively, how much material must be recovered for that same purpose. This thesis studies the spatial and numerical distributions of ceramic material recovered from three prehistoric archaeological sites that have undergone several phases of intensive testing to understand the variables that influence effective sample sizes for evaluation.
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Date Issued
2020
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013510
Subject Headings
Archaeological sites, Sampling, Evaluation
Format
Document (PDF)
A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CERAMIC DISTRIBUTION IN THE EAST OKEECHOBEE AREA
Title
A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CERAMIC DISTRIBUTION IN THE EAST OKEECHOBEE AREA.
Creator
D’Erasmo, Stefanie, Brown, Clifford, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
The East Okeechobee area is situated along the southeast coast of Florida, throughout Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and has proved difficult to access in a broad archaeological context. This is due to the blending of cultural characteristics from the surrounding areas and due to the suspected transitional nature of this region. To gain a better understanding of the cultural composition and interrelations of the East Okeechobee Area, this analysis statistically models, both synchronically...
Show moreThe East Okeechobee area is situated along the southeast coast of Florida, throughout Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and has proved difficult to access in a broad archaeological context. This is due to the blending of cultural characteristics from the surrounding areas and due to the suspected transitional nature of this region. To gain a better understanding of the cultural composition and interrelations of the East Okeechobee Area, this analysis statistically models, both synchronically and diachronically, the frequencies of ceramic types from multiple archaeological sites in and around this region.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013296
Subject Headings
Okeechobee (Fla ), Ceramics--Analysis, Archaeology--Florida
Format
Document (PDF)
AFFINITY OF TWO SOUTH FLORIDA POPULATIONS THROUGH NONMETRIC DENTAL ANALYSIS
Title
AFFINITY OF TWO SOUTH FLORIDA POPULATIONS THROUGH NONMETRIC DENTAL ANALYSIS.
Creator
Benitez, Daniel, Ellis, Meredith A. B., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
This research examines the relationship of two archeological populations in Southeastern Florida from the Middle Woodland Period. The two sites chosen include the Belle Glade site in the Belle Glade Cultural Area and the Highland Beach Mound site in the East Okeechobee Cultural Area. The determination of relationships was done through an analysis of nonmetric dental traits. A series of traits were recorded in an ordinal scale and later dichotomized into present or absent, in order to conduct...
Show moreThis research examines the relationship of two archeological populations in Southeastern Florida from the Middle Woodland Period. The two sites chosen include the Belle Glade site in the Belle Glade Cultural Area and the Highland Beach Mound site in the East Okeechobee Cultural Area. The determination of relationships was done through an analysis of nonmetric dental traits. A series of traits were recorded in an ordinal scale and later dichotomized into present or absent, in order to conduct a biological distance analysis. The statistical method chosen for this analysis was the Smith’s Mean Measure of Divergence. Results indicate that both populations have a minimal degree of divergence. These results corroborate the evidence gathered from past archeological investigations.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013286
Subject Headings
Dental anthropology--Florida, Belle Glade (Fla ), Highland Beach (Fla )
Format
Document (PDF)
DIETARY VARIABILITY IN A GROUP OF MIXED-SPECIES CERCOPITHECUS MONKEYS (CERCOPITHECUS MITIS, C. ASCANIUS AND C. MITIS X C. ASCANIUS) IN MKENKE VALLEY, GOMBE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA
Title
DIETARY VARIABILITY IN A GROUP OF MIXED-SPECIES CERCOPITHECUS MONKEYS (CERCOPITHECUS MITIS, C. ASCANIUS AND C. MITIS X C. ASCANIUS) IN MKENKE VALLEY, GOMBE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA.
Creator
Crawford, Sarah, Detwiler, Kate M., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
This research represents the first multi-year investigation of the feeding ecology of Gombe’s Cercopithecus populations. The main goal of this study was to identify dietary overlap and distinctiveness among the phenotypes in our study group, a mixed species group of guenons comprised of C. ascanius, C. mitis, and C. ascanius x C. mitis hybrids. Field assistants collected feeding data using ad libitum observations as well as instantaneous scan sampling at 30-minute intervals from July 2014 to...
Show moreThis research represents the first multi-year investigation of the feeding ecology of Gombe’s Cercopithecus populations. The main goal of this study was to identify dietary overlap and distinctiveness among the phenotypes in our study group, a mixed species group of guenons comprised of C. ascanius, C. mitis, and C. ascanius x C. mitis hybrids. Field assistants collected feeding data using ad libitum observations as well as instantaneous scan sampling at 30-minute intervals from July 2014 to December 2018. A total of 63 plant species were identified in our group’s diet. Results indicate that a significant difference exists between the diets of each phenotype. The results also found an unusually high percentage of invertebrate eating (54%) in our group. These findings suggest that invertebrates are an important food resource for the Gombe study group and may help facilitate coexistence in an environment where there are many sympatric primate species.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013295
Subject Headings
Cercopithecus, Gombe National Park (Tanzania), Phenotype, Sympatry (Biology), Animals--Food
Format
Document (PDF)
Dental Analysis of Prehistoric Populations in Coastal Ecuador
Title
Dental Analysis of Prehistoric Populations in Coastal Ecuador.
Creator
Boyer, Cassandra Anne Kwy-San, Ellis, Meredith B., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description
This thesis compares the human dentition of three coastal populations in Salango, Ecuador, dating to Late Guangala (Site 141C: 100 B.C. – A.D. 800), Early Manteño (Site 35: A.D. 645 +/- 45 and A.D. 430), and Late Manteño (Site 140: A.D. 1300 – 1600). The human remains in Sites 141C and 140 have not been previously analyzed and provide new information about coastal Ecuador in the form of statistical analysis and osteobiographies. Dental pathologies such as caries, abscesses, calculus,...
Show moreThis thesis compares the human dentition of three coastal populations in Salango, Ecuador, dating to Late Guangala (Site 141C: 100 B.C. – A.D. 800), Early Manteño (Site 35: A.D. 645 +/- 45 and A.D. 430), and Late Manteño (Site 140: A.D. 1300 – 1600). The human remains in Sites 141C and 140 have not been previously analyzed and provide new information about coastal Ecuador in the form of statistical analysis and osteobiographies. Dental pathologies such as caries, abscesses, calculus, hypoplasia, as well as dental wear patterns indicate subsistence, or diet, behavioral and cultural practices, and early childhood development. The data suggests that agriculture became more intensively practiced during Site 35’s occupation, whereas Site 141C preferred fishing, and Site 140 used both methods in a simultaneous manner where neither dominated. Further, the disruption in childhood development is statistically significant during Site 140’s occupation, suggesting these individuals were heavily affected by climate, Spanish colonization and subsequent disease, social struggles, and/or dietary deficiency.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013358
Subject Headings
Dental anthropology, Salango (Ecuador), Prehistoric peoples
Format
Document (PDF)
SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN AMONG THE PERUVIAN FISHERMEN–SURFERS FROM HUANCHACO BEACH
Title
SYMBOLIC MEANINGS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN AMONG THE PERUVIAN FISHERMEN–SURFERS FROM HUANCHACO BEACH.
Creator
Sabogal–Suji, Ricardo M., Harris, Michael S., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description
Traditional Peruvian fishermen–surfers from Huanchaco Beach have been surfing the waves of the Pacific Ocean and fishing from their caballitos de totora (reed fishing boats) since ancient times. To some, the near Apu Campana (tutelary mountain) protects the fishermen–surfers form the dangers of sea fishing. And according to the forensic iconographical (corresponding human remains and iconography) and ethnohistorical data, the fishermen–surfers or Huanchaqueros have been fishing and surfing in...
Show moreTraditional Peruvian fishermen–surfers from Huanchaco Beach have been surfing the waves of the Pacific Ocean and fishing from their caballitos de totora (reed fishing boats) since ancient times. To some, the near Apu Campana (tutelary mountain) protects the fishermen–surfers form the dangers of sea fishing. And according to the forensic iconographical (corresponding human remains and iconography) and ethnohistorical data, the fishermen–surfers or Huanchaqueros have been fishing and surfing in the waters for at least 1900 years. Huanchaco Beach’s modern events such as The Sea Festival, The Salty Foot Contest, The Saint Peter Festival, and various surfing events are related to the Mama Kocha or Mother Ocean. Ancient divine beings like Ai Apaec and Takaynamo are also significant elements in the lives of the fishermen–surfers who are the descendants of the Mochica–Chimú people, and whose fishing and surfing activities revolve around the Mama Kocha’s temperament.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013410
Subject Headings
Huanchaco (La Libertad, Peru), Fishers--Peru, Surfers, Symbolism, Maritime anthropology, Pacific Ocean
Format
Document (PDF)
Utilizing Remote Sensing to Describe the Area of Occurrence of the Dania Beach Monkeys, Chlorocebus sabaeus, from Introduction to Present
Title
Utilizing Remote Sensing to Describe the Area of Occurrence of the Dania Beach Monkeys, Chlorocebus sabaeus, from Introduction to Present.
Creator
Lyon, Ashley M., Detwiler, Kate, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
This research investigates land use change and the area of occurrence of an introduced primate species, Chlorocebus sabaeus, from 1940 until the present. Research into the importation and subsequent release of these monkeys has revealed that they were released from a failed tourist attraction in 1947. The attraction was located southeast of the Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Remote sensing techniques were utilized to examine land use change over time, create a...
Show moreThis research investigates land use change and the area of occurrence of an introduced primate species, Chlorocebus sabaeus, from 1940 until the present. Research into the importation and subsequent release of these monkeys has revealed that they were released from a failed tourist attraction in 1947. The attraction was located southeast of the Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Remote sensing techniques were utilized to examine land use change over time, create a land classification map, and create a canopy model. These data were used to better understand the area of occurrence of an introduced primate species by examining anthropogenic changes through time and measuring changes in available forest habitat. Corridors, and their transformation through the decades, were evaluated to better understand potential dispersal routes and connectivity to natural areas for colonization.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013330
Subject Headings
Green monkey, Introduced species, Dania Beach (Fla ), Remote sensing
Format
Document (PDF)
SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET: MISSED COLLECTIONS AND NAGPRA COMPLIANCE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
Title
SKELETONS IN THE CLOSET: MISSED COLLECTIONS AND NAGPRA COMPLIANCE AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY.
Creator
Young, Branden S., Ellis, Meredith A. B., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) curates several collections containing Native American human skeletal remains. Some of these collections have not been inventoried nor have they been registered in the National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) database. As such, FAU is out of compliance with federal regulation and at risk of incurring penalties. I have inventoried the human remains and determined the minimum number of individuals for three of these collections ...
Show moreFlorida Atlantic University (FAU) curates several collections containing Native American human skeletal remains. Some of these collections have not been inventoried nor have they been registered in the National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) database. As such, FAU is out of compliance with federal regulation and at risk of incurring penalties. I have inventoried the human remains and determined the minimum number of individuals for three of these collections (Canal Point 2, Canal Point 3 and Belle Glade Mound). I have also compiled both an archaeological and cultural history for these sites, as well as participated in consultations with Native American tribes in an attempt to determine cultural affiliation. This will assist FAU in its ongoing efforts to comply with federal regulation as well as facilitate any disposition requests made in the future.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013431
Subject Headings
NAGPRA, United States Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Florida Atlantic University, Compliance, Human skeleton
Format
Document (PDF)
THE CORPUS CALLOSUM OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MICROCEPHALY AN MRI STUDY
Title
THE CORPUS CALLOSUM OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MICROCEPHALY AN MRI STUDY.
Creator
Fishbein, Alyson, Ellis, Meredith, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
Microcephaly is neurological condition within which the brain fails to develop to a normal size resulting in the appearance of a smaller head. Microcephaly often accompanies various neurodevelopmental disorders. The corpus callosum is the largest white matter structure in the brain, comprised primarily of heavily myelinated axons. The corpus callosum connects the left and right hemisphere and allows for communication to occur between hemispheres. Using MRI measurements from a sample of 18...
Show moreMicrocephaly is neurological condition within which the brain fails to develop to a normal size resulting in the appearance of a smaller head. Microcephaly often accompanies various neurodevelopmental disorders. The corpus callosum is the largest white matter structure in the brain, comprised primarily of heavily myelinated axons. The corpus callosum connects the left and right hemisphere and allows for communication to occur between hemispheres. Using MRI measurements from a sample of 18 microcephalic patients, I analyzed whether the corpus callosum was impacted as a result of microcephaly. When compared to normocephalic controls, the corpus callosum was generally smaller in relation to overall cerebral hemispheric volume, suggesting that white matter brain tissues may be affected by microcephaly. A deeper understanding of the brain through research on the underlying mechanisms responsible for brain evolution and development is critical to our ability to detect, treat and prevent neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013307
Subject Headings
Corpus callosum, Microcephaly, Magnetic resonance imaging
Format
Document (PDF)
Ethnography of Unitarian Universalism
Title
Ethnography of Unitarian Universalism.
Creator
Tomaleh, Khawla, Brown, Susan Love, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
Unitarian Universalism is a modern religion with a long history of reformation rooted in Christianity. My ethnography examines one of the Unitarian Universalist fellowships located in South Florida. The research examines the role of the church in American lives and the significance of the religious experience among liberals and humanists. American religions have been the focus of social scientists for the past forty years. This study shed light on how modernity affects the trajectory of...
Show moreUnitarian Universalism is a modern religion with a long history of reformation rooted in Christianity. My ethnography examines one of the Unitarian Universalist fellowships located in South Florida. The research examines the role of the church in American lives and the significance of the religious experience among liberals and humanists. American religions have been the focus of social scientists for the past forty years. This study shed light on how modernity affects the trajectory of religion in the United States. This is a holistic approach viewed of one of the American religions through a socio economic and political lens. Unitarian Universalism is comprehended through themes of individual narratives. Unitarian Universalist narratives present the religious experience a heterogeneous group might share. The story of Unitarian Universalists explains how religion is attached socially and culturally to believers. My research offers an alternative narrative for people who represent a minority among traditional and world religions.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013271
Subject Headings
Ethnography, Unitarian Universalists, Narratives
Format
Document (PDF)
Investigating Abandonment Processes in the Cloud Forest: An Archaeological and Ethnoarchaeological study of Manteño site abandonment from Manabí, Ecuador.
Title
Investigating Abandonment Processes in the Cloud Forest: An Archaeological and Ethnoarchaeological study of Manteño site abandonment from Manabí, Ecuador.
Creator
Scott, Tasia R., Harris, Michael S., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
This thesis provides an analysis of Manteño site abandonment in the cloud forest of Manabí, Ecuador. First, the types, frequency, and distribution of artifacts at site C4-044 were recorded, mapped, and compared to levels of phosphate in the soil to determine activity areas. The obtained evidence allowed me to make general approximations of the site’s pre-abandonment behavior. Then, the archaeological data together with environmental and bioarchaeological information from the region were...
Show moreThis thesis provides an analysis of Manteño site abandonment in the cloud forest of Manabí, Ecuador. First, the types, frequency, and distribution of artifacts at site C4-044 were recorded, mapped, and compared to levels of phosphate in the soil to determine activity areas. The obtained evidence allowed me to make general approximations of the site’s pre-abandonment behavior. Then, the archaeological data together with environmental and bioarchaeological information from the region were assessed to propose the mode of departure from site C4-044. Through ethnography and ethnoarchaeology, a recent historical account of abandonment in the cloud forest was obtained as well, providing additional insight regarding adaptive strategies and behavioral choices to changing contextual circumstances. The culmination of this evidence shows a gradual mode of abandonment from site C4-044 in the cloud forest that was planned and executed accordingly.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005985
Subject Headings
Manabí (Ecuador), Ethnoarchaeology, Pre-Columbian archaeology, Cloud forests, Manteño
Format
Document (PDF)
Prehispanic Obsidian Exploitation in the Department of Chinandega, Nicaragua
Title
Prehispanic Obsidian Exploitation in the Department of Chinandega, Nicaragua.
Creator
Colón, Justin Bradford, Brown, Clifford T., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
This thesis examines the fabrication and provenance of 2,871 obsidian artifacts collected from twelve prehispanic archaeological sites in four physiographic zones throughout the Department of Chinandega, the northwesternmost department of Nicaragua. This research represents the first systematic study of obsidian artifacts in the region and focuses on two aspects of the obsidian artifacts. First, I present a macroscopic technical analysis of artifacts collected from twelve sites in the...
Show moreThis thesis examines the fabrication and provenance of 2,871 obsidian artifacts collected from twelve prehispanic archaeological sites in four physiographic zones throughout the Department of Chinandega, the northwesternmost department of Nicaragua. This research represents the first systematic study of obsidian artifacts in the region and focuses on two aspects of the obsidian artifacts. First, I present a macroscopic technical analysis of artifacts collected from twelve sites in the Department. The second part of the thesis presents a collaborative geochemical provenance study of obsidian procurement across these sites. Results indicate that most prehispanic sites participated in multiple sets of long-distance trade networks centered on obsidian as early as the Late Preclassic, up until the Late Postclassic, exploiting trade from four obsidian sources to the north. Analyses show that populations in the Department primarily, though not exclusively, utilized a core-flake industry that was worked on-site with material from the Güinope source in Honduras. A limited number of prismatic blades and a few other formal tools sourced from two additional further sources (La Esperanza in Honduras and Ixtepeque in Guatemala) appear almost exclusively as imported finished products more recently in the archaeological sequence. Additionally, the archaeological sites situated in the eastern coastal plains of the Department contained the largest variety of source material, followed by the sites of the northern foothills, a single site in the Nicaraguan depression, and lastly a single site in the Maribios volcanic front. Although ceramic analyses from the collection are partially complete and developing, this region is best understood as a cultural mosaic connected to the Mesoamerican populations in the north.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013005
Subject Headings
Chinandega (Nicaragua : Department), Obsidian, Archaeology, Provenance studies
Format
Document (PDF)
Evaluating Entheseal Changes from a Commingled and Fragmentary Population: Republic Groves
Title
Evaluating Entheseal Changes from a Commingled and Fragmentary Population: Republic Groves.
Creator
Dewey, Jennifer K., Ellis, Meredith, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
The most direct way available to modern day researchers to reconstruct individual and population level behavior is to analyze markers of activity from skeletal remains (Ruff et al., 2004). An analysis of the population at the Republic Groves site (8HR4) was conducted, using the entheseal change score system, the Coimbra method, developed by Henderson et al. (2015). This study examined the implication of analyzing a commingled and fragmentary population with this methodology. Reconstructing...
Show moreThe most direct way available to modern day researchers to reconstruct individual and population level behavior is to analyze markers of activity from skeletal remains (Ruff et al., 2004). An analysis of the population at the Republic Groves site (8HR4) was conducted, using the entheseal change score system, the Coimbra method, developed by Henderson et al. (2015). This study examined the implication of analyzing a commingled and fragmentary population with this methodology. Reconstructing specific behavior cannot be done with this type of approach; however, entheseal changes can be compared to specific patterns of behavior for consistency. An atlatl was found with the human remains and thus provided a suggestion of behavior for comparison. Entheses were chosen in line with a throwing motion of the atlatl and focused exclusively on the humerus, radius, and ulna. The application of the Coimbra methodology to the Republic Groves population was successful, at least in part. Overall, there was low variability of results, mostly 0, some 1, and with very few high 2 scores. The entheseal changes from Republic Groves were consistent with the throwing of an atlatl; however, this does not mean that this is the only behavior that could have generated that kind of change.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005974
Subject Headings
Bioarchaeological interpretations of the human past, Enthesis, Archaeology--Florida
Format
Document (PDF)
Healing and Transformation in Chronic Illness Memoirs
Title
Healing and Transformation in Chronic Illness Memoirs.
Creator
Rodanes, Michelle, Brown, Susan Love, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
The employment of metaphors in drawing meaning from our experiences is an indispensable ingredient in most patient narratives. More specifically, they are essential to the conceptual system we reference to understand and respond to the disruptions brought upon by chronic illness. Through an analysis of patient narratives penned by a group of contemporary American authors, this study identifies trends in how patients can use metaphor to “bridge” the gap between their lives pre and post...
Show moreThe employment of metaphors in drawing meaning from our experiences is an indispensable ingredient in most patient narratives. More specifically, they are essential to the conceptual system we reference to understand and respond to the disruptions brought upon by chronic illness. Through an analysis of patient narratives penned by a group of contemporary American authors, this study identifies trends in how patients can use metaphor to “bridge” the gap between their lives pre and post diagnosis, a process that in many cases presents vulnerability as a viable remedy for alleviating the alienation and diminished self-image so often impacting the lives of patients with lifelong disorders.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005969
Subject Headings
Chronic illness, Memoirs, Metaphor
Format
Document (PDF)
The Manteño of the Cloud Forest: Settlement Patterns and Spatial Analysis of Manteño Stone Architecture in the Las Tusas River Valley in Manabí, Ecuador
Title
The Manteño of the Cloud Forest: Settlement Patterns and Spatial Analysis of Manteño Stone Architecture in the Las Tusas River Valley in Manabí, Ecuador.
Creator
Garzón-Oechsle, Andrés E., Brown, Clifford T., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
The present study identifies settlement patterns of the Manteño culture within the cloud forest of southern Manabí by surveying, recording and analyzing the stone architecture found within the drainage basin of the Las Tusas River, Ecuador. The statistical methods used were: Triangulated Irregular Networks or TIN (for topography interpretations), K-means (to determine natural groups for structures based on their dimensions, shape, and wall thickness), Ripley’s K (to determine spatial nature...
Show moreThe present study identifies settlement patterns of the Manteño culture within the cloud forest of southern Manabí by surveying, recording and analyzing the stone architecture found within the drainage basin of the Las Tusas River, Ecuador. The statistical methods used were: Triangulated Irregular Networks or TIN (for topography interpretations), K-means (to determine natural groups for structures based on their dimensions, shape, and wall thickness), Ripley’s K (to determine spatial nature of these groups) and Kernel Density (to visualize their spatial organization). The cloud forest ecotone of southern Manabí was an anthropogenic landscape during the late Integration period. The alluvial valleys of the upper Rio Blanco drainage basin do not represent a hinterland or a periphery occupation but a series of Manteño nucleated settlements raised on terraces and interconnected by strings of linear settlements and dispersed settlements throughout the rugged terrain of this landscape.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013001
Subject Headings
Manabí (Ecuador), Archaeology--Ecuador--Antiquities, Land settlement patterns, Spatial analysis (Statistics), Manteño
Format
Document (PDF)
Tomorrow’s Heroines Fighting Today’s Demons: Dystopia in The Hunger Games and Divergent Series
Title
Tomorrow’s Heroines Fighting Today’s Demons: Dystopia in The Hunger Games and Divergent Series.
Creator
Gleyzer, Marianna, Brown, Susan Love, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
Through a close analysis of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series and Veronica Roth’s Divergent series, it will be shown that these two-current young adult dystopian book-film crossovers pose several relevant parallels to contemporary real-world problems. By deciphering a pattern on what garners their popularity, and most importantly analyzing the aspect of why they reached such levels of recognition, we can then begin to close in on just how important these two series are in representing the...
Show moreThrough a close analysis of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series and Veronica Roth’s Divergent series, it will be shown that these two-current young adult dystopian book-film crossovers pose several relevant parallels to contemporary real-world problems. By deciphering a pattern on what garners their popularity, and most importantly analyzing the aspect of why they reached such levels of recognition, we can then begin to close in on just how important these two series are in representing the 21st century young American mindset. Taking into the equation also, how the overall-arching genre of dystopia has evolved with the times and has now adapted to reflect contemporary anxieties and fears. Looking into several elements such as a newfound desire for strong female roles, persuasive antagonists that are inspired by realistic historical precedents, and an unsettling desensitization towards violence and gore, we can then see that the successful equation of The Hunger Games and Divergent series reflects mainstream interests evocatively and effectively. It is not just an intervention into the encompassing utopian/dystopian tradition, but into today’s sociology.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013045
Subject Headings
Collins, Suzanne Hunger Games (Series), Roth, Veronica Divergent series, Dystopias
Format
Document (PDF)
A Zooarchaeological Perspective of West Kendall Tree Island Site (8DA1081)
Title
A Zooarchaeological Perspective of West Kendall Tree Island Site (8DA1081).
Creator
Steeves, Ryan, Fradkin, Arlene, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
The West Kendall Tree Island site (8DA1081) is a black dirt midden situated on the northeast end of an everglades tree island. The site has been intensely disturbed by excavation pits, particularly on the highest elevations of the site, and becomes increasingly disturbed by a growing Kendall population. Faunal remains recovered in 2008 are examined to reconstruct past ecological habitats, comparing the faunal composition to tree island sites within the Florida Everglades. Based upon...
Show moreThe West Kendall Tree Island site (8DA1081) is a black dirt midden situated on the northeast end of an everglades tree island. The site has been intensely disturbed by excavation pits, particularly on the highest elevations of the site, and becomes increasingly disturbed by a growing Kendall population. Faunal remains recovered in 2008 are examined to reconstruct past ecological habitats, comparing the faunal composition to tree island sites within the Florida Everglades. Based upon identifications, the composition of the site is similar to those of the region, being comprised primarily of freshwater aquatic species and aquatic reptiles, with minimal selection of terrestrial faunal resources.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013101
Subject Headings
Zooarchaeology., Animal remains (Archaeology)--Florida., Tree islands--Florida--Everglades.
Format
Document (PDF)
Assessment of Sexual Dimorphism on the First and Second Ribs: Exploring Geometric Morphometrics
Title
Assessment of Sexual Dimorphism on the First and Second Ribs: Exploring Geometric Morphometrics.
Creator
Bhramdat, Henna D., Brown, Clifford T., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description
Estimating the sex of unknown human skeletal remains is important to the fields of forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology, and other specialties. I studied sexual dimorphism on the first and second ribs to estimate sex from skeletal remains. I employed two approaches. I used geometric morphometrics to analyze landmark and semilandmark coordinate points to examine the overall shape of the ribs. I also examined the sternal end of the ribs for size using the superior-inferior height (SIH) and...
Show moreEstimating the sex of unknown human skeletal remains is important to the fields of forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology, and other specialties. I studied sexual dimorphism on the first and second ribs to estimate sex from skeletal remains. I employed two approaches. I used geometric morphometrics to analyze landmark and semilandmark coordinate points to examine the overall shape of the ribs. I also examined the sternal end of the ribs for size using the superior-inferior height (SIH) and anteriorposterior breadth (APB) in a binary logistic regression (BLR) model. Differences in male and female first and second ribs are undetectable when landmark coordinate points are used to capture shape variability, but significant differences in the shape of the ribs, however, are detected through the use of semilandmark coordinate points. Using semilandmark points to estimate sex presented an accuracy rate of 80.7% from the first rib, and 72.9% from the second rib. The use of the sternal end presents consistent results in its ability to estimate sex with an accuracy rate of 84.2%. The BLR model reveals significant differences between males and females than the geometric morphometric approach; it is more applicable for discerning sexual dimorphism of unknown individuals. This study reveals that while geometric morphometrics provides a powerful approach to assessing morphological differences, it is not always better than simpler methods, in this case, simple measurements analyzed through BLR.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005976
Subject Headings
Sexual dimorphism (Animals), Ribs, Morphology
Format
Document (PDF)

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