<p> Yokem Mounds and its neighboring lower Illinois River valley sites were part of a dramatic cultural shift that occurred during the transition from the Late Woodland period (A.D. 400-1050) to the Mississippian period (A.D. 1050-1400) of Illinois prehistory. Evident changes in diet, burial treatment, and material culture accompanied this transition at Yokem Mounds. What remains unknown is whether the transition co-occurred with a population displacement by originators of the Mississippian culture, the Cahokians, or other Mississippian immigrants. My ancient DNA analysis of Yokem Mounds 1-5 tackled this question, as well as described other cultural behaviors in order to identify additional impacts of the Mississippian culture. </p><p> I typed the mitochondrial DNA of 21 Late Woodland and 23 Mississippian individuals and placed the results within the context of previous genetic studies of the lower Illinois River valley and other ancient Midwest populations. I determined that there was genetic continuity between the Late Woodland and Mississippian populations, both populations practiced patrilocal postmarital residence patterns, and neither had burial patterns organized by matrilines. The differences in maize consumption as determined by stable isotopic signatures amongst the Late Woodland population were not associated with matrilineal familial diet preference. The population genetic analysis identified genetic connections between Yokem Mounds and contemporaneous populations at Schild Cemetery, Orendorf, and Angel Mounds; but Yokem Mounds was significantly different from the Oneota population at Norris Farms #36. Additionally, <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Complex DNA was recovered from eleven individuals from Yokem Mounds and Schild Cemetery. Notably, two of these individuals date to the Middle Woodland period (100 B.C.-A.D. 400), which is the earliest identification of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> complex DNA in the lower Illinois River valley. Overall, this research further expands our understanding of Native American prehistory and the demographic changes that occurred prior to European contact.</p>

<p> The primary objective of this dissertation was to reevaluate how physical anthropologists address the issue of oral health and oral health disparities in past populations. By utilizing methodology from dentistry as well as theoretical frameworks from archaeology and public health, we are able to address oral health in a more comprehensive light, allowing for a more interdisciplinary approach to the understanding of oral health in past populations. </p><p> The Erie County Poorhouse, established in Buffalo, New York in response to growing poverty, was located at what is now the University at Buffalo&rsquo;s South Campus. In 2012, skeletal remains were recovered from the associated cemetery (1851-1913). In all, 482 burial locations were identified, with skeletal remains from 376 individuals being recovered for analysis. Archaeological analysis of artifacts and coffin alignment suggest a temporal boundary between an older (earlier) and more recent (later) sections of the cemetery. </p><p> This time period marked a revolution for dental medicine in the United States. Changes in education, innovation, regulation, and public outreach all dramatically increased the accessibility, increased the quality, and decreased the costs of dentistry during the 19th century. Because of this, individuals occupying a lower socioeconomic class could have obtained dental services at higher rates than previous research suggests. This research analyzes dental pathologies, oral health, and oral health disparities within this sample in light of these advances in dentistry. </p><p> Of the 376 individuals available for analysis, 253 had at least one tooth or portion of alveolar bone to be scored for dental pathologies (antemortem loss, carious lesions, abscesses, calculus, periodontal disease) and dental restorations (dentures, fillings, bridges). In general, high frequencies of dental pathologies are present within this sample while only 10 individuals had evidence of dental restorations. Differences in dental pathologies were analyzed using MANOVA/MANCOVA tests as well as Multinomial Logistic Regression between sex (males/females) and sections of the cemetery (earlier/more recent), as well as by age (&lt;15, 15-19, 20-35, 36-50, 50+).</p><p> To better address the concept of oral health, a new index, modified from an oral health index used in clinical dentistry, was utilized&mdash;The Oral Health Archaeological Index&mdash;which generates an &lsquo;oral health score&rsquo; for each individual. The oral health scores generated were compared using ANOVA tests between sex and sections of the cemetery. Results indicate that females had on average higher oral health scores than males (Females= 0.871, Males=0.759). </p><p> To assess the degree of oral health disparities, Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients were calculated using oral health scores and dental restorations. In order to test significance, 50 bootstrapped samples were generated for males, females, and for each section of the cemetery. For each bootstrapped sample, Gini coefficients were calculated. These Gini coefficients were than compared using student&rsquo;s t-test between the sexes and sections of the cemetery. Results suggest that there is greater evidence of oral health disparities among males than females (Female Gini Coefficient=0.0658, Male Gini Coefficient=0.09185). </p><p> This dissertation moved beyond traditional analysis of &lsquo;oral health&rsquo; by utilizing the above Oral Health Archaeological Index, theory, and public health studies to allow for a more robust analysis of oral health in past populations. These methods and theories allow for new interpretations to be made beyond the biological and socioeconomic, focusing on the individual experience and agency of an individual, attempting to ascertain what factors encourage or discourage an individual from seeking out dental treatment.</p>

<p>Abstract Cranial base angle, vertebral dimensions, vertebral curvature, and locomotive behavior differ among Homo, Pan, and Gorilla; but many distinctions are obfuscated by dimensional and behavioral overlap among the genera and their fossil relatives. To address these issues, cranial and vertebral measurements (suites) were examined among Homo, Gorilla, and Pan as representative hominines for their posture and locomotion or positional-locomotory complexes. An additional analysis considered Australopithecus afarensis (A.L. 288-1 and A.L. 333) for comparative purposes. Using size-adjusted values with applied Bonferroni adjusted alpha levels, significant results for both the Kruskal-Wallis H-test and Mann-Whitney U-tests indicated statistically significant differences among species for cranial base angle (p = 0.000) and vertebral body dimensions with coronal and sagittal facet orientation (p = 0.000 ? 0.003). Detected significance was present for thoracic and lumbar curvature (p = 0.000) and positional-locomotory complex (p = 0.000) among species, albeit only cranial base angle was significant for the Pan-Gorilla comparison. Moreover, post hoc Spearman?s rho tests indicated significant results (p = 0.000 ? 0.009) with strong positive and negative correlations throughout the column for each species. However, no pattern among vertebral measurements throughout the vertebral column was detected. Lastly, Multinomial Logistic Regression yielded a correct classification percentage with significant model fit (p = 0.000) of 86.4% for the cranial base, 82.8-97.0% for all subsequent vertebrae, and 80.3% for thoracic and lumbar curvature among species. Positional locomotory complexes were also significant (p = 0.000) and yielded a correct classification percentage of 82.2% among bipeds and the two modes of knuckle-walking practiced by Pan and Gorilla respectively. However, misclassifications between human and nonhuman primates for cranial base angle and calculated vertebral curvature suggest that these variables are not viable for assessing either genera or positional-locomotory complexes. Lastly, both Australopithecus afarensis specimens (A.L. 288-1 and A.L. 333) were incorrectly classified. The A.L. 288-1 specimen identified as Homo and the misclassification of A.L. 333 as Pan suggest either species or vertebra misidentification. Overall, the data indicate that both vertebral corpus dimensions and coronal and sagittal facet orientations differ significantly among hominine taxa and can distinguish species and their respective posturo-locomotory complex. As for the evolutionary implications, human bipedalism is distinct as related to cranial base angle and vertebral measurements; however significant differences between Pan and Gorilla suggest homoplasy among measurements and denote parallelism for the emergence of knuckle-walking.

<p> Investigating intrinsic properties as determinants of bone survival has major implications in forensic anthropology. It is useful in the incomplete recovery of a skeleton to know if certain bones that are missing are those that are expected to be missing. Assuming complete recovery, individual skeletal parts should have different recovery probabilities. This research examines the differential survivorship of human skeletal remains based on intrinsic properties (density, size, and shape) of bone. Fifty skeletons from the William M. Bass Forensic Skeletal Collection at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville were measured to determine bone length (cm) and shape (sphere, disc, rod, or blade) for twenty skeletal elements. Density measures (HUs) of skeletal parts were recorded for 11 skeletons from the Texas State University Donated Skeletal Collection. These intrinsic variables were then compared to recovery frequencies from a forensic sample of Arizona-Sonoran desert border crossers (n=380). This study found a correlation between bone length and frequency (r_S= 0.46) and significant differences in the mean recovery frequencies for shapes (p &lt; 0.05). Though no correlation was found for skeletal part density and frequency (r_S= -0.21), structurally dense midshafts of long bones are recovered with a greater frequency than their corresponding epiphyseal ends (p &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, structurally dense crania have the highest survivorship potential (89%). This study substantiates differences in mean recovery frequencies for skeletal elements according to anatomical location (p &lt; 0.05). Anatomical regions and recovery frequencies were used to produce a simple taphonomic model. Educating law enforcement on the value and appearance of high survivorship bones in the taphonomic model is a recommendation to improve policy and practice.</p><p>

<p> This ethnographic study of ZEGG explores the challenges a radical intentional community faces when it rejects mainstream economic and social norms, creating a new culture governed by new norms. ZEGG, an intentional community in Germany, began as an experiment in community living in the 1970s and 1980s, under the leadership of Dieter Duhm, a German psychoanalyst. The community operated in various locations across Germany before finally buying a farm and settling more permanently in Flaming in 1992. The study is based on several months of participatory observation, carried out over the course of four years, and 42 interviews with community members and visitors. As required by the participatory research methodology, designated community members were involved in every stage of the study and their feedback was incorporated into the final version submitted for publication. To survive and thrive, ZEGG had to organize, find ways to finance its operations, and adjust its mission. The loss of its charismatic leader threatened its existence at the very beginning, but, in the long term, it allowed for more flexibility and helped the community adapt and survive for over 25 years. Presently ZEGG is a dynamic, financially stable community with over a hundred members and several thousand yearly visitors. </p><p>

Thesis--Uppsala. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references (p. 294-314) and index.

Thesis (M.A.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Anthropology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

The author's doctoral dissertation, New York University, 1915, but not published as a thesis. / Bibliography: p. 142-150.

Amidst the socioeconomic and political constraints imposed from a dominant Euroamerican society, the Hopi, Native American farmers living in northeastern Arizona, continue to be resilient in maintaining an overall tradition of their foodways. A rise through time in diet-related disease testifies to the biological consequences of a changing diet encircled and catalyzed by social disruption. This change continues to be resisted and negotiated in prophesy and tradition. In this dissertation I present data documenting change in Hopi foodways from such varied sources as dietary surveys of Hopi women and children, food processing surveys of Hopi women, a survey of Hopi storage and agricultural practices, and historic documents. Underlying contradictions at the point where cultural action or inaction and biological change interact. The contradictions and subsequent actions or coping strategies needed to contextualize, explain, and confront these contradictions lie at the heart of a biocultural interface. I present two materialist models, one based in political-economy, the other in adaptation. These models outline conditions under which Hopi foodways have been transformed along with the subsequent consequences of such transformations. This approach seeks explanation and an objective view on a perceived problem related to diet and health. In order to contextualize the issues, I also offer mentalist views, which are embedded in ideology and originate from Hopi explanations of the same change as well as from my own subjective perspectives. The ideal expression of this endeavor is the linking of ideology with biology. This blend of materialist and mentalist paradigms, and the dialectic that emerges, are necessary steps towards an investigation of the biocultural interface. They also serve as a platform for engaging in discussions that can facilitate and confront change. In this dissertation I call for bioculturalism, the dynamic interplay of theory with praxis. This process is an integral part of a needed emerging synthesis in biological anthropology.

Anemia in prehistory remains a “paleopathological riddle”. The problems in diagnosis and interpretation are not surprising since anemia continues to be an issue of concern in contemporary populations. The word “anemia” is derived from the Greek, anaimia, meaning bloodlessness, and is a pathological condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume. Despite over one hundred years of research on the various forms of anemia, health care professionals, public health officials, and anthropologists continue to be unsure of the precise characteristics and nature of skeletal manifestations of anemia. Further complicating the issue is the apparent correlation of anemia(s) with many other pathological conditions. Infectious pathogens are particularly confounding, because they have a symbiotic relationship with the hosts, and are as ubiquitous, in many respects, as the anemias. This study reviews the history of the interpretation of skeletal lesions indicative of anemia and infection, with particular focus on recent scientific debates that interpret anemia as a positive factor. In this interpretation, instead of evaluating illness, lesions are construed as markers of “health”, and anemia is ultimately characterized as an adaptive response to prevent or diminish the activity or vigor of infections. In my study, 96 individuals from three prehistoric sites in Tuscaloosa and Wilcox counties in Alabama are analyzed for standard markers of anemia and infection. An alternative method of analysis that employs visual representation of macroscopic, descriptive analysis and an expanded repertoire of skeletal markers of hypervascular activity in cranial and postcranial elements is proposed and subsequently applied to the sample of individuals. Cranial asymmetry is presented as a marker of metabolic distress when associated with other indicators such as porotic hyperostosis. In the final phase of analysis and interpretation, anemia is reviewed within an “adaptive” framework. It is concluded that a much more detailed analysis is required for studies of anemia and infection. It is also concluded that rather than contributing to the adaptive fitness of the population, anemia is more likely an indication of physiological exhaustion and metabolic failure in most instances. Furthermore, skeletal lesions associated with anemia and infection are not well suited to questions of adaptation. This is because of two important points. The first is that skeletal lesions on postcranial elements in children less than five years of age may be caused by either infection or anemia or both together, and are virtually indistinguishable in many cases. The second problem is that while cranial lesions result from childhood bouts of anemia, lesions associated with infection can occur throughout ones life. In older individuals in whom there is evidence of healing or remodeling, there is no way to determine whether the anemia and infection occurred simultaneously or as separate events. Anemia is not a true pathology. It is an abnormal physiological condition that can be symptomatic of many diseases, and can occur in tandem with these diseases. This study shows that a more synthetic approach is required in order to reveal cause and correlation relationships among indicators of metabolic discord and infectious disease, as well as many other pathological conditions.