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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)

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)

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)

Title: The Estimation Of Ancestry And Sex In Unknown Individuals Through A Comparison Of Methods.
Creator: Thomas, Alexandra N., Ellis, Meredith, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description: When unidentified skeletal remains are found, researchers utilize a number of methods to apportion details for a biological profile. While these practices are used and professed through generations of students, they also require a reevaluation of the methods. This project estimates the ancestry and sex of nine unknown skeletal individuals through two different mechanisms. Modified biological profiles were completed through two different methodologies: anthroscopic traits (Buikstra and...
Show moreWhen unidentified skeletal remains are found, researchers utilize a number of methods to apportion details for a biological profile. While these practices are used and professed through generations of students, they also require a reevaluation of the methods. This project estimates the ancestry and sex of nine unknown skeletal individuals through two different mechanisms. Modified biological profiles were completed through two different methodologies: anthroscopic traits (Buikstra and Ubelaker 1994; White et al. 2012) and geometric morphometrics using 3D-ID (Slice and Ross 2009). The results serve two purposes: (1) to provide ancestry and sex (2) to compare two methodologies through outcomes and repeatability of results. Intra-observer error testing was conducted on both methods. All outputs resulted in low intra-rater reliability, highlighting the repeatability error in one observer’s collection methods. These results conclude and encourage the reevaluation and standardization of the procedures and comparison groups used to assess ancestry and sex.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005919
Subject Headings: Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Ancestry, Sex determination, Human skeleton--Analysis.
Format: Document (PDF)

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)

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)

Title: CRANIAL MODIFICATIONS IN SANTANDER, COLOMBIA.
Creator: Torres, Camila Andrea Serrano, Ellis, Meredith, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: The study of cranial modifications is valuable to the fields of bioarcheology, and other areas of anthropology. This thesis focuses on analyzing cranial modification in Santander, Colombia. Research focuses on a variety of crania in museums of this region. There is not much known about the crania and there are just a few academic works about them from the social/cultural perspective. Some records do mention that a specific group called “Guane” inhabited the region where the crania were...
Show moreThe study of cranial modifications is valuable to the fields of bioarcheology, and other areas of anthropology. This thesis focuses on analyzing cranial modification in Santander, Colombia. Research focuses on a variety of crania in museums of this region. There is not much known about the crania and there are just a few academic works about them from the social/cultural perspective. Some records do mention that a specific group called “Guane” inhabited the region where the crania were discovered. This investigation from the perspective of bioarcheology is particularly important for better understanding and documenting of these specimens. This research will also help the different museums and collections in documenting the crania they have and provide data to others that may also be interested in these collections. A general aspect of the methodology that was used to achieve the conclusions were photos, measurements and the determination of the sex and age. It was determined that there is no association between the cranial modifications and the sex. Also, the different modifications, including the form, variety and degree was determined for each cranium.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014084
Subject Headings: Bioarchaeology, Human remains (Archaeology), Skull, Santander (Colombia : Department)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Analysis of Cranial Modification in Coastal Ecuador.
Creator: Henderson, Alexis Marie, Ellis, Meredith, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: This thesis analyzes cranial modification from various sites and locations within coastal Ecuador. This research aims to identify the various types of tabular cranial modification and understand the methods used to classify each subtype of tabular modification. From this, I discussed the different types of modification and then used that information to contrast between North American and South American bioarchaeological methods of classifying cranial modification. Additionally, I...
Show moreThis thesis analyzes cranial modification from various sites and locations within coastal Ecuador. This research aims to identify the various types of tabular cranial modification and understand the methods used to classify each subtype of tabular modification. From this, I discussed the different types of modification and then used that information to contrast between North American and South American bioarchaeological methods of classifying cranial modification. Additionally, I reconstructed the biological profiles of some of the crania. The importance of this research is to introduce a method of identifying cranial modification that has been previously used in South American bioarchaeology to North American bioarchaeology. Furthermore, information on cranial modification regarding the coastal populations of Ecuador is lacking. The data in this thesis contributes a significant amount of knowledge about this practice, allowing this project to provide new information to the field of anthropology and the country of Ecuador.
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Date Issued: 2022
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014097
Subject Headings: Bioarchaeology, Skull, Human remains (Archaeology)--Ecuador
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: BONE COLLECTORS: PERSONHOOD AND APPEAL IN THE SALE AND TRADE OF HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS ON FACEBOOK.
Creator: Breda, Evelyn, Ellis, Meredith A.B., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: The desire to own human skeletal remains has been prevalent for many years; in our modern technological age avenues for this market have exploded across the internet. This research focuses on Facebook groups dedicated to oddity sales and collecting. Purchasing human remains is illegal in Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee as well as prohibited by Facebook terms of service, but these sales persist. Over the course of 2021, 319 listings for human skeletal remains were recorded across six...
Show moreThe desire to own human skeletal remains has been prevalent for many years; in our modern technological age avenues for this market have exploded across the internet. This research focuses on Facebook groups dedicated to oddity sales and collecting. Purchasing human remains is illegal in Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee as well as prohibited by Facebook terms of service, but these sales persist. Over the course of 2021, 319 listings for human skeletal remains were recorded across six Facebook groups. These listings accounted for most skeletal elements found within the human skeleton. Many elements are artistic in nature, something viewed as “Giving a second life” to the remains, as observed within these groups. To fully understand the driving force behind this market requires cultural insight about the perception of human remains as well as the culture found within these groups. Kinship, friendship, and trust are all clearly expressed between buyers and sellers.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014173
Subject Headings: Human skeleton--Collectors and collecting, Human remains (Archaeology), Personhood
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Bioarchaeological Implications of Porotic Hyperostosis in the Pre-Columbian Societies of Coastal Ecuador.
Creator: Rivas, Daniel Gonzalo Alava, Ellis, Meredith B., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: This thesis focuses on identifying the presence of porotic hyperostosis in a sample made up of 119 individuals to a) assess the possible causes of porotic hyperostosis in the ancient Ecuadorian coastal societies, b) reconsider porotic hyperostosis as a nutritional stress marker, and c) propose bartonellosis as an alternative cause for the appearance of porotic lesions in the skull over 4,000 years in the Northern Andes. By applying the BoPLE (Bone Porous Lesions Evaluation) method, results...
Show moreThis thesis focuses on identifying the presence of porotic hyperostosis in a sample made up of 119 individuals to a) assess the possible causes of porotic hyperostosis in the ancient Ecuadorian coastal societies, b) reconsider porotic hyperostosis as a nutritional stress marker, and c) propose bartonellosis as an alternative cause for the appearance of porotic lesions in the skull over 4,000 years in the Northern Andes. By applying the BoPLE (Bone Porous Lesions Evaluation) method, results obtained and clinical evidence propose that parasite infections and iron deficiencies are two of the probable causes of porotic hyperostosis in the prehistory of the Ecuadorian coast. Furthermore, the results suggested that a female skull associated with Valdivia culture phase II (3,300 – 2,800 BCE) is Ecuador's oldest record of this symptom. Likewise, the clinical characteristics of bartonellosis suggests it to be a plausible cause of porotic hyperostosis in ancient Ecuador.
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Date Issued: 2024
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014374
Subject Headings: Hyperostosis, Human remains (Archaeology), Human remains (Archaeology)--Ecuador, Bartonellosis
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Care in Medieval Transylvania: A Bioarchaeological Study.
Creator: Heron, Megan A., Ellis, Meredith A. B., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: This thesis examines the skeletal remains of two disabled adults collected from the Bogoz archaeological site (1100-1700) in Mugeni, Romania. Mugeni (in Hungarian, Bogoz) is home to an ethnic culture known as the Szekely, whose history has been lost (Bethard 2019, p. 254). This thesis conducts a microhistorical bioarchaeology of caregiving behaviors for Burial 13 and Burial 150 to concurrently reinsert disabled individuals into the historical narrative and to contribute to Szekely history....
Show moreThis thesis examines the skeletal remains of two disabled adults collected from the Bogoz archaeological site (1100-1700) in Mugeni, Romania. Mugeni (in Hungarian, Bogoz) is home to an ethnic culture known as the Szekely, whose history has been lost (Bethard 2019, p. 254). This thesis conducts a microhistorical bioarchaeology of caregiving behaviors for Burial 13 and Burial 150 to concurrently reinsert disabled individuals into the historical narrative and to contribute to Szekely history. Four theoretical backgrounds- microhistory, social bioarchaeology, osteobiography, and the Bioarchaeology of Care- are synthesized to organize analysis. First, this thesis documents biological identifiers, pathologies, mortuary treatment, and the physical, socio-cultural, and economic lifeways (Tilley & Schrenk 2017, p. 2). Then, models of care are developed to analyze multiscalar intersectionalities to understand the broader implications of medieval and early modern Transylvania (Peltonen 2001, p. 348; Walton 2008, p. 6). This approach will serve as an example for the continued investigations of care provisions for disabled and/or impaired persons, contributing to the historical narrative (Bethard et al. 2019, p. 267; Hosek 2019, p. 47).
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Date Issued: 2024
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014371
Subject Headings: Human remains (Archaeology), Archaeology, Medieval, Székely, Szeklers--History
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Potential Provenance Identification of Unidentified Human Remains Using Strontium and Oxygen Isotope Analysis.
Creator: Colonna, Hallie, Ellis, Meredith A. B., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: Major academic institutions in the United States house unidentified human skeletal remains in their collections as a result of unethical obtainment, poor documentation, and lack of resources. This thesis explores the possible geographic provenances associated with two skulls, A11 and A12, kept in the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Anthropology Department. This thesis utilizes strontium and oxygen isotope analysis collected from dental and enamel tissues to explore possible geographic...
Show moreMajor academic institutions in the United States house unidentified human skeletal remains in their collections as a result of unethical obtainment, poor documentation, and lack of resources. This thesis explores the possible geographic provenances associated with two skulls, A11 and A12, kept in the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Anthropology Department. This thesis utilizes strontium and oxygen isotope analysis collected from dental and enamel tissues to explore possible geographic provenance for A11 and A12. Analyzing isotopic composition of human skeletal remains is an established method to reconstruct human processes, history, events, and lifeways. Strontium (expressed by the ratio: 87Sr/86Sr) and oxygen (expressed by the ratio: δ18O) stable isotope analysis is used to determine place of origin for human remains with unknown origin. Strontium and oxygen isotopes express geographic signatures, of an individual's food and drinking water ingested during childhood which can reflect the isotope signature of the environment (soil, water, geology) from where it originates.
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Date Issued: 2024
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014508
Subject Headings: Human remains (Archaeology), Bioarchaeology, Oxygen--Isotopes--Analysis, trontium--Isotopes
Format: Document (PDF)

Human remains (Archaeology) (5)	+ -
Bioarchaeology (3)	+ -
Human remains (Archaeology)--Ecuador (2)	+ -
Skull (2)	+ -
Ancestry (1)	+ -

Archaeology, Medieval (1)	+ -
Archaeology--Florida (1)	+ -
Bartonellosis (1)	+ -
Belle Glade (Fla ) (1)	+ -
Bioarchaeological interpretations of the human past (1)	+ -
Compliance (1)	+ -
Corpus callosum (1)	+ -
Dental anthropology (1)	+ -
Dental anthropology--Florida (1)	+ -
Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University (1)	+ -
Enthesis (1)	+ -
Florida Atlantic University (1)	+ -
Highland Beach (Fla ) (1)	+ -
Human skeleton (1)	+ -
Human skeleton--Analysis. (1)	+ -
Human skeleton--Collectors and collecting (1)	+ -
Hyperostosis (1)	+ -
Magnetic resonance imaging (1)	+ -
Microcephaly (1)	+ -
NAGPRA (1)	+ -
Oxygen--Isotopes--Analysis (1)	+ -
Personhood (1)	+ -
Prehistoric peoples (1)	+ -
Salango (Ecuador) (1)	+ -
Santander (Colombia : Department) (1)	+ -

Department of Anthropology (12)	+ -
Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters (12)	+ -
Florida Atlantic University (12)	+ -
Ellis, Meredith (5)	+ -
Ellis, Meredith A. B. (4)	+ -

Ellis, Meredith B. (2)	+ -
Benitez, Daniel (1)	+ -
Boyer, Cassandra Anne Kwy-San (1)	+ -
Breda, Evelyn (1)	+ -
Colonna, Hallie (1)	+ -
Dewey, Jennifer K. (1)	+ -
Ellis, Meredith A.B. (1)	+ -
Fishbein, Alyson (1)	+ -
Henderson, Alexis Marie (1)	+ -
Heron, Megan A. (1)	+ -
Rivas, Daniel Gonzalo Alava (1)	+ -
Thomas, Alexandra N. (1)	+ -
Torres, Camila Andrea Serrano (1)	+ -
Young, Branden S. (1)	+ -

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