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- Title
- ARTIFACTS IN ARCHAEOLOGY: A CARIBBEAN CASE STUDY.
- Creator
- KEEGAN, WILLIAM FRANCIS., Florida Atlantic University, Kennedy, William J., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
The term artifact denotes a framework for conceptualizing the physio-chemical modification of environmentally occurring raw materials by human, cultural processes. This thesis examines the categories of artifact analysis, and integrates these into a development sequence. This sequence represents the processes which pattern all artifacts. They can be summarized as occurring at four stages: (1) selection of raw materials; (2) construction techniques; (3) artifact use and function; (4) formation...
Show moreThe term artifact denotes a framework for conceptualizing the physio-chemical modification of environmentally occurring raw materials by human, cultural processes. This thesis examines the categories of artifact analysis, and integrates these into a development sequence. This sequence represents the processes which pattern all artifacts. They can be summarized as occurring at four stages: (1) selection of raw materials; (2) construction techniques; (3) artifact use and function; (4) formation of the archaeological record. The result of this integration is a heuristic model that recognizes the unity and complexity of cultural materials, and provides a base for processual studies. A separate part of this thesis employs Strombus gigas shell artifacts from the prehistoric cultures of the Caribbean to indicate the utility of the artifact development sequence as a theoretical conceptualization.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1981
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14072
- Subject Headings
- Antiquities, Caribbean Area--Antiquities, Analysis, Strombus gigas
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Glades period settlement patterns in the Everglades culture area.
- Creator
- Callsen, Paul., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
The manner in which human settlements are arranged across the landscape holds clues to a society's internal social relationships and may indicate how a society fits into its environment. This research investigates settlement patterns during the formative pre-historic periods in Southeast Florida, the three Glades Periods (BC 500- AD 1750). During this time span, the inhabitants of the region adapted to a changing climate and environment by occupying places that were conducive to their...
Show moreThe manner in which human settlements are arranged across the landscape holds clues to a society's internal social relationships and may indicate how a society fits into its environment. This research investigates settlement patterns during the formative pre-historic periods in Southeast Florida, the three Glades Periods (BC 500- AD 1750). During this time span, the inhabitants of the region adapted to a changing climate and environment by occupying places that were conducive to their particular hunter-gatherer way of life. However, while the Glades people moved from one locale to another, they never altered the manner in which they primarily sought sustenance; fishing and hunting. Evidence suggests substantial population increases beginning in the Glades II Period and shift of habitations due to flooding of earlier and lower sites.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/165672
- Subject Headings
- Ethnoarchaeology, Indians of North America, Antiquities, Land settlement patterns, History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Preacher's Cave: developing a national heritage tourism site in Eluthera, Bahamas.
- Creator
- Day, Jane S., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
Preacher's Cave, an archaeological site in North Eleuthera, Bahamas, is arguably one of the most important historical places in that country. This large cave, isolated in a natural setting, has long been associated in the popular imagination with the first English colonists who shipwrecked in the Bahamas in 1648 and laid the foundation for the modern nation. Before the present work, no systematic scientific archaeological work had ever been conducted at this site. While Project Director for...
Show morePreacher's Cave, an archaeological site in North Eleuthera, Bahamas, is arguably one of the most important historical places in that country. This large cave, isolated in a natural setting, has long been associated in the popular imagination with the first English colonists who shipwrecked in the Bahamas in 1648 and laid the foundation for the modern nation. Before the present work, no systematic scientific archaeological work had ever been conducted at this site. While Project Director for the Preacher's Cave archaeological investigations in 1991, 1992, 2005, 2006, and 2007, I acted as liaison between the Bahamian Government, local island constituents, and the team of scholars who accomplished the work, organizing all aspects of the excavations. By analyzing the recovered material assemblage from these excavations, we were able to prove that the seventeenth-century English Puritans not only used Preacher's Cave for shelter in the first period of colonization, but altered the natural rock formations of the cave for use as the first church in the Bahamas. These excavations, in conjunction with the written record, also suggest that the area surrounding the site is the location of the first free black community in the country. Finally the scientific investigation confirmed Preacher's Cave as a prehistoric burial spot for the Lucayan people who lived in the islands before Columbus landed in 1492. These burials are unique because they were recovered with grave goods and one of the five Lucayan burials appears to be a victim of human sacrifice. No where else in the country do these three compelling narratives come together and form the basis for the development of a National Heritage Tourism Site., But protecting an historic site and interpreting it for visitors in a country where tourism is one of the major industries can be challenging. This study summarizes past strategies that were successful in the development of a small museum on the nearby is Wells using the techniques of the public historian and public archaeologist to proceed with plans for the opening of Preacher's Cave as a national park. Discussions concerning constituents, park boundaries, access, and political realities in the twenty-first century Bahamas are considered while examining the larger concept of heritage and tourism as collaborative industries.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1927305
- Subject Headings
- Excavations (Archaeology), Historic sites, Antiquities, Antiquities
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Paleopathology of human remains from the Plaza San Marcos, Quito, Ecuador.
- Creator
- Graves, Ronda R., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
Skeletal remains provide an exceptional opportunity to document the biological adaptations that a population undergoes in response to environmental, political and economic changes (Perry, 2007). For over 35 years, bioarchaeological analyses have documented such changes indigenous Ecuadorians. In 2007, Victoria Dominguez excavated remains at the Plaza San Marcos in Quito, Ecuador. I analyzed these remains, documented evidence of pathologic conditions and trauma, and compared this native...
Show moreSkeletal remains provide an exceptional opportunity to document the biological adaptations that a population undergoes in response to environmental, political and economic changes (Perry, 2007). For over 35 years, bioarchaeological analyses have documented such changes indigenous Ecuadorians. In 2007, Victoria Dominguez excavated remains at the Plaza San Marcos in Quito, Ecuador. I analyzed these remains, documented evidence of pathologic conditions and trauma, and compared this native population to other indigenous populations and to European cohorts. My analyses revealed increased violence and pathologic conditions in the Plaza San Marcos population when compared to populations occupying Quito prior to colonization and during Spanish control. Indigenous remains also exhibited more pathologic conditions and trauma than European remains. Historic accounts of life in Quito describe increased violence and hardships for natives following emancipation from Spain. My analyses did not reveal increased interpersonal violence, but did demonstrate evidence of increased general pathologies following independence.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/216408
- Subject Headings
- Indians of South America, Antiquities, Indians of South America, Anthropometry, Human remains (Archaeology), Paleopathology, Antiquities
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Prehistoric trade routes in the Lake Okeechobee Region: evidence from the RItta Island and Kreamer Island sites.
- Creator
- Mount, Gregory J., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
During pre-Columbian times, the Lake Okeechobee Region was home to people of the Belle Glade culture. The lake provided an area rich in resources that facilitated not only the hunter-gatherer-fisher lifestyle of the people but also supported increased cultural complexity. Over time, people participated in an exchange network, trading materials with cultural groups from a variety of locations. This thesis provides an analysis of those non-local artifacts, their probable points of origins and...
Show moreDuring pre-Columbian times, the Lake Okeechobee Region was home to people of the Belle Glade culture. The lake provided an area rich in resources that facilitated not only the hunter-gatherer-fisher lifestyle of the people but also supported increased cultural complexity. Over time, people participated in an exchange network, trading materials with cultural groups from a variety of locations. This thesis provides an analysis of those non-local artifacts, their probable points of origins and the type of exchange that facilitated the movement of these goods into the region.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/217112
- Subject Headings
- Navigation, Prehistoric, Trade routes, Excavations (Archaeology), Antiquities
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Behavior patterns in Florida's middle archaic: activity induced articular facets from the Gauthier (SBR-193) Mortuary complex.
- Creator
- Nelson, Kassandra., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
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This study examines activity induced articular facets and osteoarthritis in the ankle and foot complex of an Archaic hunter-gatherer population from the Gauthier (8BR-193) mortuary complex. To determine the frequency at which these characteristics occur, I scored the tibiae, tali, proximal phalanges, and metatarsals of adults and juveniles using methods developed by Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994) for scoring osteoarthritis and a synthesis of methods developed by Barnett (1954), and Boulle ...
Show moreThis study examines activity induced articular facets and osteoarthritis in the ankle and foot complex of an Archaic hunter-gatherer population from the Gauthier (8BR-193) mortuary complex. To determine the frequency at which these characteristics occur, I scored the tibiae, tali, proximal phalanges, and metatarsals of adults and juveniles using methods developed by Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994) for scoring osteoarthritis and a synthesis of methods developed by Barnett (1954), and Boulle (2001a; 2001b), Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994). Molleson (1989), Ubelaker (1979), for scoring articular facets. Despite significant skeletal fragmentation observed, articular facets were remarkbly complete, allowing for analysis of joint degeneration. While there does not appear to be a correlation between characteristics, the high prevalence of activity induced articular facets and osteoarthritis is indicative of extreme hyperdorsiflexion. Habitual kneeling and squatting postures are characteristic of hunter-gatherer subsistence activities as suggested by researchers such as Ubelaker (1975), Molleson (1969), and Trinkaus (1975).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3318677
- Subject Headings
- Hunting and gathering societies, Indians of North AMerica, Antiquities, Physical anthropology, Human remains (Archaeology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A preliminary typology of Aztec formal chipped stone tools.
- Creator
- Guyah, Timothy J., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
This preliminary typology of Aztec formal chipped stone tools was created taking into account the context in which the lithics were recovered, their morphology, and manufacturing processes. The typology defines six categories of stone tools: ornately decorated bifaces (this includes ceremonial lithic artifacts), projectile points, scrapers, perforators, denticulates, and other. The thesis also includes an analysis of 10 previously unanalyzed Aztec lithic assemblages. When taken together the...
Show moreThis preliminary typology of Aztec formal chipped stone tools was created taking into account the context in which the lithics were recovered, their morphology, and manufacturing processes. The typology defines six categories of stone tools: ornately decorated bifaces (this includes ceremonial lithic artifacts), projectile points, scrapers, perforators, denticulates, and other. The thesis also includes an analysis of 10 previously unanalyzed Aztec lithic assemblages. When taken together the typology and lithic analysis provide a summary description of the Aztec lithic industry.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3342112
- Subject Headings
- Indians of Mexico, Antiquities, Aztecs, Antiquities, Stone implements, Obsidian implements
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Fractal analysis applied to ancient Egyptian monumental art.
- Creator
- Robkin, Jessica., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
The study of ancient Egyptian monumental art is based on subjective and qualitative analyses by art historians and Egyptologists who use the change in stylistic trends as Dynastic chronological markers. The art of the ancient Egyptians is recognized the world over due to its specific and consistent style that lasted the whole of Dynastic Egypt. This artwork exhibits fractal qualities that support the applicability of applying fractal analysis as a quantitative and statistical tool to be used...
Show moreThe study of ancient Egyptian monumental art is based on subjective and qualitative analyses by art historians and Egyptologists who use the change in stylistic trends as Dynastic chronological markers. The art of the ancient Egyptians is recognized the world over due to its specific and consistent style that lasted the whole of Dynastic Egypt. This artwork exhibits fractal qualities that support the applicability of applying fractal analysis as a quantitative and statistical tool to be used in this field. In this thesis, I show the fractality of ancient Egyptian monumental art by analyzing black and white line drawings of twenty-eight spearate bas-reliefs with three separate programs : Benoit 1.3, ImageJ, and Fractal3e. After preparing the images with GIMP2 software - used to remove non-original lines - I analyzed each image using the fractal box-counting analysis function in the above programs and calculated their fractal dimension, D. The resulting fractal dimension supported the consistency visually identified in the artwork from ancient Egypt, both chronologically and geographically.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3358966
- Subject Headings
- Egypt, Antiquities, Mathematical models, Art, Egyptian, Conservation and restoration, Mural painting and decoration, Ancient, Chronology, Egyptian, Fractals in art
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Ceramics of Mayapan: a petrographic study.
- Creator
- Sanchez Fortoul, Carmen Giomar., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
-
The unimpressive archaeological record of the last Mayan pre-Hispanic period has been traditionally interpreted as one of a society in decadence. However, archaeological remains evidencing stylistic homogenization across regions and documentary accounts written during the conquest describing thriving markets and entrepreneurial people have indicated to some a mercantile society linked by extensive networks of communication. Under the weaker political environment of this period, it is expected...
Show moreThe unimpressive archaeological record of the last Mayan pre-Hispanic period has been traditionally interpreted as one of a society in decadence. However, archaeological remains evidencing stylistic homogenization across regions and documentary accounts written during the conquest describing thriving markets and entrepreneurial people have indicated to some a mercantile society linked by extensive networks of communication. Under the weaker political environment of this period, it is expected that a mercantile environment presented more competition and more ceramic producers. This research used petrographic analysis and XRD of the pottery of Mayapan the last Maya capital, to detect ceramic compositional groups, which research has associated with the number of pottery producers. The number of producers is usually taken as a reflection of the degree of competition. This research found multiple compositional groups and the use of fewer ceramic materials that nonetheless are technologically advantageous, suggesting a more competitive and pragmatic society.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/369394
- Subject Headings
- Indian pottery, Excavations (Archaeology), Maya pottery, Mayas, Antiquities, Antiquities
- Format
- Document (PDF)