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(1 - 8 of 8)
- Title
- Predictive modeling of archaeological site location in Cuba.
- Creator
- Watson, April A., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
This work aimed at aiding academic and CRM professionals in archaeology by developing a predictive model of prehistoric sites on the southeastern coast of Cuba. The variables in this model were identified by previous archaeological research at Guantâanamo Bay Naval Station. Both GIS analysis and weights of evidence testing were conducted on the model. The results of the GIS and statistical analysis allowed for refinement of the model. Cuba is central to understanding the prehistoric...
Show moreThis work aimed at aiding academic and CRM professionals in archaeology by developing a predictive model of prehistoric sites on the southeastern coast of Cuba. The variables in this model were identified by previous archaeological research at Guantâanamo Bay Naval Station. Both GIS analysis and weights of evidence testing were conducted on the model. The results of the GIS and statistical analysis allowed for refinement of the model. Cuba is central to understanding the prehistoric settlement of the Caribbean. The model explored not only site occurrence and environmental correlations, but also looked at intersite correlations. It was determined that site occurrences are strongly linked to low elevation, proximity to other sites, south-facing areas, mangroves, and geologic formations. This model may add to the understanding of the prehistoric settling of Cuba, as well as the interactions between native groups.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3174309
- Subject Headings
- Geographic information systems, Archaeology, Methodology, Archaeology, Geographic information systems
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The topology of archaeological site distributions: the lacunarity and fractality of prehistoric oaxacan settlements.
- Creator
- Flanagan, Kelin, Brown, Clifford T., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
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Survey is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, it needs to be both effective and efficient. Some archaeologists have argued that current survey techniques are not effective (Shott 1985, 1989), but most archaeologists continue to employ these methods and therefore must believe they are effective. If our survey techniques are effective, why do simulations suggest otherwise? If they are ineffective, can we improve them? The answers to these practical questions depend on the topological...
Show moreSurvey is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, it needs to be both effective and efficient. Some archaeologists have argued that current survey techniques are not effective (Shott 1985, 1989), but most archaeologists continue to employ these methods and therefore must believe they are effective. If our survey techniques are effective, why do simulations suggest otherwise? If they are ineffective, can we improve them? The answers to these practical questions depend on the topological characteristics of archaeological site distributions. In this study I analyze archaeological site distributions in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, using lacunarity and fractal dimension. Fractal dimension is a parameter of fractal patterns, which are complex, space-filling designs exhibiting self-similarity and power-law scaling. Lacunarity is a statistical measure that describes the texture of a spatial dispersion. It is useful in understanding how archaeological tests should be spaced during surveys. Between these two measures, I accurately describe the regional topology and suggest new considerations for archaeological survey design.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004109, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004109
- Subject Headings
- Excavations (Archaeology) -- Methodology, Fractals, Social sciences -- Mathematical models, Stochastic processes
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A cultural affiliation assessment of archaeological sites within the Loxahatchee Scarp area using discriminant analysis techniques.
- Creator
- Wheeler, Skye B., Florida Atlantic University, Kennedy, William J.
- Abstract/Description
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This study seeks to investigate the problem of the cultural boundary between the Kissimmee-Lake Okeechobee and the East Okeechobee culture areas. The problem is addressed here using sites along the geographical region known as the Loxahatchee Scarp, focusing mainly on three sites, Whitebelt I (8PB220), Whitebelt III (8PB222) and JR244 (8MT1327). This study compares ceramic type data using the multivariate statistical analysis of discriminant analysis. The relative frequencies of ceramic types...
Show moreThis study seeks to investigate the problem of the cultural boundary between the Kissimmee-Lake Okeechobee and the East Okeechobee culture areas. The problem is addressed here using sites along the geographical region known as the Loxahatchee Scarp, focusing mainly on three sites, Whitebelt I (8PB220), Whitebelt III (8PB222) and JR244 (8MT1327). This study compares ceramic type data using the multivariate statistical analysis of discriminant analysis. The relative frequencies of ceramic types from the test sites are compared to other sites with generally accepted cultural affiliations. The ceramic frequencies are used in order to sort each sites level into several culture areas, those include the Glades, Indian River, Kissimmee-Lake Okeechobee and East Okeechobee culture areas. The results of this study demonstrated the utility of using discriminant analysis in the sorting of levels within sites into appropriate culture areas. The analysis suggests that although ceramics are a key component in determining where that site fits into the vast scheme of known archaeological culture areas, ceramics alone are a poor determinator without considering other factors, such as lithic or shell tools.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2003
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13016
- Subject Headings
- Discriminant analysis, Excavations (Archaeology)--Florida--Kissimmee, Excavations (Archaeology)--Florida--Okeechobee, Lake, Archaeology--Methodology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Jupiter Inlet I (8PB34): A test case in the use of ceramic frequencies and discriminant analysis in determining cultural affinity.
- Creator
- Pepe, James Patrick., Florida Atlantic University, Kennedy, William J.
- Abstract/Description
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Many archaeological culture area models have been proposed for southern Florida. The most important reason for the number of alternative models may be a lack of precise means to evaluate them in relation to individual archaeological sites. This thesis addresses these problems using Jupiter Inlet I (8PB34) as an example. The relative frequencies of ceramic types from this site are compared to other sites with generally accepted cultural affiliations. The multivariate statistical technique...
Show moreMany archaeological culture area models have been proposed for southern Florida. The most important reason for the number of alternative models may be a lack of precise means to evaluate them in relation to individual archaeological sites. This thesis addresses these problems using Jupiter Inlet I (8PB34) as an example. The relative frequencies of ceramic types from this site are compared to other sites with generally accepted cultural affiliations. The multivariate statistical technique known as discriminant analysis is used to directly compare comparable components from each site. This analysis reveals that archaeological areas in southern Florida can be determined fairly well based on ceramic data alone. A more objective archaeological area model is proposed for southern Florida. In this model, Jupiter Inlet I is shown to be part of several different archaeological areas over time.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1999
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15697
- Subject Headings
- Archaeological surveying--Florida, Archaeology--Methodology--Florida, Pottery, Florida--Antiquities
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Determining functionality and living patterns: a phosphate analysis of two prehistoric structures in Río Blanco, Ecuador.
- Creator
- Reneau, Brittany L., Brown, Clifford T., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
Archaeologists have identified many prehistoric structures affiliated with the Manteño culture (500 CE to 1532 CE) of coastal Ecuador, but the function of those constructions is rarely understood. As part of an ongoing project by Florida Atlantic University to explore the function of these buildings, I conducted systematic soil phosphate testing in and around two archaeological structures and, for ethnoarchaeological comparison, four contemporary households. The two prehistoric structures are...
Show moreArchaeologists have identified many prehistoric structures affiliated with the Manteño culture (500 CE to 1532 CE) of coastal Ecuador, but the function of those constructions is rarely understood. As part of an ongoing project by Florida Atlantic University to explore the function of these buildings, I conducted systematic soil phosphate testing in and around two archaeological structures and, for ethnoarchaeological comparison, four contemporary households. The two prehistoric structures are located 200 meters from each other and on two different river terraces within the same river valley. They are part of a larger site (C4-084). I found clear spatial patterning in phosphate concentrations in and around the archaeological structures. The concentrations were higher inside the structures, while outside they decreased with distance from the structure. Statistical testing and spatial analysis have suggested the two structures were used for different purposes.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004154, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004154
- Subject Headings
- Archaeology -- Methodology, Ethnoarchaeology -- Ecuador -- Río Blanco, Excavations (Archaeology) -- Ecuador -- Río Blanco, Manabi (Ecuador : Provence) -- Antiquities, Río Blanco (Ecuador) -- Antiquities
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A new method to achieve lithic use-wear discrimination using laser scanning confocal microscopy.
- Creator
- Farber, Elliott, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
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My study sought to acquire quantitative data from the surface of lithic tools and use that data to discriminate tools used on different contact materials. An experimental archaeological wear production method was conceived, whereby I and several volunteers produced wear on chert, heat-treated chert, and obsidian flakes by using those flakes on several contact materials. The flakes were then analyzed using a laser scanning confocal microscope, which recorded three-dimensional surface data from...
Show moreMy study sought to acquire quantitative data from the surface of lithic tools and use that data to discriminate tools used on different contact materials. An experimental archaeological wear production method was conceived, whereby I and several volunteers produced wear on chert, heat-treated chert, and obsidian flakes by using those flakes on several contact materials. The flakes were then analyzed using a laser scanning confocal microscope, which recorded three-dimensional surface data from each tool. The data was analyzed using cluster analysis to find the ideal combination of parameters which correctly discriminated the flakes based on use-wear data. After finding acceptable parameters which grouped flakes appropriately through cluster analysis, those groups were subjected to a discriminant analysis. Each analysis returned a p-value under .05, meaning that the clustering based on the parameters Sq and Sfd produced by the cluster analysis was not random, but indicative of these variables' ability to discriminate lithic use-wear. The major advantage of the approach developed in this study is that it can quantitatively discriminate use-wear produced by different contact materials on flakes with no a priori information at all.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3362342
- Subject Headings
- Archaeology, Methodology, Archaeological surveying, Laser use in, Topographical surveying, Laser use in, Nanostructured materials, Tools, Prehistoric, Analysis
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Re-visiting Briarwoods: Determining reliability of assessing population health from fragmentary remains.
- Creator
- Pinto, Deborrah C., Florida Atlantic University, Broadfield, Douglas C.
- Abstract/Description
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The Briarwoods Site (8PA66) was first excavated by Jeffrey M. Mitchem and Dr. Stephen J. Gluckman, from the University of South Florida, in 1980. It was a burial mound with scattered human skeletal fragments on the surface. The salvage excavation had to be expedited due to the fact that a building development on the site was in progress. Iscan and Gomez (1982) suggested that there were skeletal elements recovered that provided evidence for the existence of Paget's disease (Osteitis deformans ...
Show moreThe Briarwoods Site (8PA66) was first excavated by Jeffrey M. Mitchem and Dr. Stephen J. Gluckman, from the University of South Florida, in 1980. It was a burial mound with scattered human skeletal fragments on the surface. The salvage excavation had to be expedited due to the fact that a building development on the site was in progress. Iscan and Gomez (1982) suggested that there were skeletal elements recovered that provided evidence for the existence of Paget's disease (Osteitis deformans ) in the population. However, this study reanalyzes the elements and using new technology such as Computed Tomography scans shows that there was no conclusive evidence of Paget's disease. Instead, the skeletal morphology of the affected bones is comparable to the characteristics of treponemal disease which, unlike Paget's disease, is found in sites contemporaneous to Briarwoods.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13115
- Subject Headings
- Excavations (Archaeology)--Florida--Gulf Coast, Archaeological expeditions--Florida--Gulf Coast, Paleopathology, Bones--Diseases, Anthropometry, Archaeology--Methodology, Osteitis deformans
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Paleodemography of Highland Beach the demographic parameters of a Native American population from Southeastern Florida.
- Creator
- Hennessey, Christopher, Broadfield, Douglas C., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
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Those who practice within the field and those who wish to discredit the field have long debated the field of paleodemography. In 1999 and again in 2000, researchers who used paleodemographic analysis assembled in Rostock, Germany to amend the present issues and change the way research is conducted in the future (Hoppa and Vaupel 2002). As a result of these meetings, researchers created the Rostock Manifesto. While many scholars accepted the change in the suite of methodologies carried out...
Show moreThose who practice within the field and those who wish to discredit the field have long debated the field of paleodemography. In 1999 and again in 2000, researchers who used paleodemographic analysis assembled in Rostock, Germany to amend the present issues and change the way research is conducted in the future (Hoppa and Vaupel 2002). As a result of these meetings, researchers created the Rostock Manifesto. While many scholars accepted the change in the suite of methodologies carried out under the new guidance, little has been said on the effectiveness of the manifesto. In this thesis, I argue that the Rostock Manifesto, at the very least, is effective in changing the results of paleodemographic research both qualitatively and quantitatively. Unfortunately, due to the nature of paleodemographic research it cannot be said of how effective the manifesto is.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004445, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004445
- Subject Headings
- Demographic anthropology, Demographic archaeology, Human population genetics, Human remains (Archaeology), Human skeleton -- Analysis, Indians of North America -- Florida, Native Americans -- Florida -- Population -- History -- Methodology, Paleoanthropology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
