Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:42:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sani D L Paisani.pdf: 6362942 bytes, checksum: 15bf41d54006101dfbd35d5ee0516b1d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-02 / This study aimed to identify the meaning of the phytholith palaeoenvironmental record in pedostratigraphic sequences of colluvial ramps and paleovalley head on the geomorphic surface Palmas / Água Doce. In particular it sought to: a) distinguish phytholith record incorporated into colluvium by modern vegetation of the areas studied in relation to the registration of paleovegetation area source of colluvium; b) understand the phenomenon of absense of phytholith records on the basis of colluvial deposits; c) characterize the taphonomical morphotypes; d) search current homologous in the first centimeters of soil, regarding the impact of pastoral activity; e) systematize the stratigraphic information from colluvial deposits in the study area, and f) establish the carbon isotopic signal to the sections of phytholith record for mutual comparison of paleovegetation of information obtained by phytholith analysis. To achieve the objectives two pedostratigraphic sections were chosen, a representation of pedostratigraphic sequence of colluvial ramp (HS18) and a paleovalley head (HS13), both in geomorphic surface Palmas / Água Doce. In the colluvium ramp feces from cattles were analyzed, since the pastoral activity is recurrent in the study areas since the late nineteenth century and until now no one knew of its their role as a developer of phytoliths to pedostratigraphic sequences. By integrating the records of phytoliths from both geomorphic units it can be said that: a) phytholith in pedostratigraphic sequences of colluvium ramps and paleovalley head of the geomorphic surface of Palmas/ Água Doce are both autochthonous and allochthonous; where the first represents the occupation of the graaslands vegetation over time along with the surfaces and paleosurfaces; b) the allochthonous also represents the graaslands vegetation, but from the slopes that surround the colluvium ramp and paleovalley head; c) the activity of current and past grazing is a taphonomy process of incorporation of allochthonous morphotypes into the soil and degradation as a result of chewing and digestion; d) the absence of phytoliths with preserved morphologies in both pedostratigrafic units shows the degradation of these corpuscles both naturally and by digestion of herbivorous animals; e) morphotypes are common taphonomy chemically, physically as well as both. / O presente trabalho objetivou identificar o significado paleoambiental do registro fitolítico em sequências pedoestratigráficas de rampas de colúvio e paleocabeceiras de drenagem da superfície geomórfica de Palmas/Água Doce. Em específico procurou-se: a) distinguir o registro silicofitolítico incorporado aos colúvios pela vegetação moderna das áreas estudadas em relação ao registro da paleovegetação da área fonte dos colúvios; b) compreender o fenômeno de ausência de registro silicofitolítico na base dos depósitos de colúvio; c) caracterizar os morfotipos tafonomizados; d) levantar homólogo atual nos primeiros centímetros de solo, em relação ao impacto da atividade pastoril; e) sistematizar as informações estratigráficas dos depósitos de colúvio estudados na área e f) estabelecer o sinal isotópico do carbono para as seções do registro silicofitolítico para cotejamento das informações da paleovegetação obtidas pela análise fitolítica. Para atingir os objetivos foram escolhidas duas seções pedoestratigráficas, sendo uma representativa da sequência pedoestratigráfica de rampa de colúvio (HS18) e outra de paleocabeceira de drenagem (HS13), ambas na Superfície Geomórfica de Palmas/Água. Na rampa de colúvio foram analisadas as fezes de vacas, uma vez que a atividade pastoril é recorrente nas áreas de estudo desde o final do século XIX e até o momento não se sabia de seu papel enquanto incorporadora de fitólitos às sequências pedoestratigráficas. Integrando os registros de silicofitólitos de ambas as unidades geomórficas pode-se dizer que: a) os silicofitólitos em sequências pedoestratigráficas de rampas de colúvio e paleocabeceiras de drenagem da Superfície Geomórfica de Palmas/Água Doce são tanto autóctones quanto alóctones, onde os primeiros representam a ocupação da vegetação de campo ao longo do tempo junto à superfície e paleosuperfícies; b) os alóctones também representam a vegetação de campo, porém das encostas que circundam a rampa de colúvio e a paleocabeceira de drenagem; c) a atividade do pastoreio atual e passada é um processo tafonômico de incorporação de morfotipos alóctones no solo e de degradação por efeito da mastigação e digestão; d) a ausência de silicofitólitos com morfologias preservadas em ambas as unidades pedoestratigráficas mostram a degradação desses corpúsculos tanto naturalmente quanto pela digestão de animais herbívoros; e) são comuns morfotipos tafonomizados química, fisicamente, bem como ambas.

In the anthropological analysis of burned bone, the presence of a white heat line aids in determining a bone’s physical condition prior to burning, distinguishing between those burned fleshed or wet versus dry. However, while the relationship between this thermal signature and a bone’s physical condition has been studied, there is a lack of research concerning the chemical composition of white heat lines. The present study assessed the composition of white heat lines that form on burned bone using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with the potassium bromide (KBr) pellet method. The present study examined the effects of soft tissue and the retention of bone’s organic material, including naturally-occurring grease and water, on the development and appearance of a white heat line. Experimental remains consisted of isolated long bones from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), elk (Cervus canadensis), sheep (Ovis aries), and pig (Sus scrofa) in five physical conditions – fleshed (fresh bones with adhering soft tissue), very wet (recently defleshed bone, greasy), partially wet (defleshed, slight grease retention), dry (defleshed, naturally degreased), and soaked (formerly dry bone immersed in water). These bones were burned over a wood fire made within a 55-gallon drum. After a visual analysis to evaluate white heat line formation, chemical composition was analyzed by determining spectral peak heights of the carbonate (CO3) ν3 (1415 cm-1), phosphate (PO4) ν3 (1035 cm-1), and amide I (1660 cm-1) vibrational bands. These thermal signatures appear to form superficially, measuring approximately 1.5 mm in depth. Results indicate that white heat lines that formed on fleshed bone contain an increased amount of CO3, PO4, and amide I in comparison to their unburned controls, while those that formed on very wet bone contain decreased amounts instead. These findings further our knowledge of how fire modifies physical remains and the effect that bone’s physical condition prior to burning has on the development of a white heat line and the resulting compositional changes. In order to build upon the results gained from the present study, continuing research is needed to investigate compositional differences between white heat lines that form on fleshed versus very wet bone and to assess bone’s fat content as a possible contributing factor. Additional FTIR research is needed to assess the other vibrational bands of CO3, PO4, and amide that are present in bone.

Where do people die alone when they remain undiscovered for extended periods of time? Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is critical to reconstructing the events surrounding a person's death and this is an area in which forensic anthropologists have played a leading role. This thesis applied an anthropological framework that takes a comprehensive approach to analyzing the demography of unaccompanied deaths, the relationships and timing of decomposition in multiple depositional contexts, and created a model for the prediction of accumulated degree days (ADD) for bodies within enclosures. While there have been extensive experimental and case study reviews on decomposition in outdoor environments, very little data exist for enclosed spaces. A retrospective analysis of 2003-2008 Nebraskan autopsy records demonstrates that most people dying alone are within their homes. Of the 87 forensic cases reviewed, 69 unaccompanied deaths occurred within enclosed environments. The value of retrospective studies in combination to experimental research is that the large number of variables that affect decompositional rates may be explored in a natural context. Multivariate models put emphasis on the dynamics of decompositional change and comprehensively address death and decomposition within an anthropological framework. For enclosed depositions, the PMI ranged from 1 - 66 days (n= 64, X¯=4.84, s.d.=9.1037) and the ADD ranged from 0 - 786 ADD (n=64, X¯=67.43, s.d.=120.275). Bass' (1997) model for outdoor surface decay was found to be an adequate predictor of the PMI for this sample (r=0.829, n=64, p These results provided support for the prediction of ADD as a measure of the rate of decomposition. Relationships among ADD and multiple intrinsic, extrinsic and epidemiological variables were identified and considered for a multiple linear regression model. Variables selected by the model included: decomposition odor, use of air conditioning/heat, marbling, brain liquefaction, and mummification. The model was found to account for 95.2% of the variation in ADD (Adjusted R² =0.952; F=40.807, df=5, 5 and p

The hair shaft has increasing importance in bioarchaeology, since it is now possible to retrieve detailed biomolecular information on recent life history using individual fibres (e.g., on diet, drug use and DNA). Data on hair condition is an important cornerstone to ensuring that reliable information is obtained. The following study defines morphological features of degradative change in human terminal scalp hair using different microscopy techniques. Evidence of degradative change is translated into a ranked histology for assessing hair sample condition. The approach is applied to samples of cut modern scalp hair subjected to degradation under soil burial/simulated grave conditions.

Experimental mechanical sieving methods are applied to samples of shellfish remains from three sites in southeast Queensland, Seven Mile Creek Mound, Sandstone Point and One-Tree, to test the efficacy of various recovery and quantification procedures commonly applied to shellfish assemblages in Australia. There has been considerable debate regarding the most appropriate sieve sizes and quantification methods that should be applied in the recovery of vertebrate faunal remains. Few studies, however, have addressed the impact of recovery and quantification methods on the interpretation of invertebrates, specifically shellfish remains. In this study, five shellfish taxa representing four bivalves (Anadara trapezia, Trichomya hirsutus, Saccostrea glomerata, Donax deltoides) and one gastropod (Pyrazus ebeninus) common in eastern Australian midden assemblages are sieved through 10mm, 6.3mm and 3.15mm mesh. Results are quantified using MNI, NISP and weight. Analyses indicate that different structural properties and pre- and postdepositional factors affect recovery rates. Fragile taxa (T. hirsutus) or those with foliated structure (S. glomerata) tend to be overrepresented by NISP measures in smaller sieve fractions, while more robust taxa (A. trapezia and P. ebeninus) tend to be overrepresented by weight measures. Results demonstrate that for all quantification methods tested a 3mm sieve should be used on all sites to allow for regional comparability and to effectively collect all available information about the shellfish remains.

Experimental mechanical sieving methods are applied to samples of shellfish remains from three sites in southeast Queensland, Seven Mile Creek Mound, Sandstone Point and One-Tree, to test the efficacy of various recovery and quantification procedures commonly applied to shellfish assemblages in Australia. There has been considerable debate regarding the most appropriate sieve sizes and quantification methods that should be applied in the recovery of vertebrate faunal remains. Few studies, however, have addressed the impact of recovery and quantification methods on the interpretation of invertebrates, specifically shellfish remains. In this study, five shellfish taxa representing four bivalves (Anadara trapezia, Trichomya hirsutus, Saccostrea glomerata, Donax deltoides) and one gastropod (Pyrazus ebeninus) common in eastern Australian midden assemblages are sieved through 10mm, 6.3mm and 3.15mm mesh. Results are quantified using MNI, NISP and weight. Analyses indicate that different structural properties and pre- and postdepositional factors affect recovery rates. Fragile taxa (T. hirsutus) or those with foliated structure (S. glomerata) tend to be overrepresented by NISP measures in smaller sieve fractions, while more robust taxa (A. trapezia and P. ebeninus) tend to be overrepresented by weight measures. Results demonstrate that for all quantification methods tested a 3mm sieve should be used on all sites to allow for regional comparability and to effectively collect all available information about the shellfish remains.

Wandering Bones. Tafonomy and Funerary Treatment in Mochica Tombs at San José de MoroThe focus of this study is a sample of human burials from the Precolumbian archaeological site of San José de Moro, Peru. This site is located in the coastal desert of northern Peru and this sample dates to the latter half of the Moche period (450 AD-750 AD). Many of the burials from this site demonstrate various degrees of disarticulation. Stratigraphic analysis has demonstrated that this disturbance cannot be the product of post-depositional forces. An analysis of the distribution of the bones within the tombs, and a review of the process of corporeal decomposition suggests that the disturbance happened before the bodies were placed in their tombs. The results indicate that the cadavers were wholly or partially mummified before burial, and that disarticulation ocurred as the brittle, mummified body was maneuvered into the tomb. The body was mummified either as a deliberate measure before transporting the corpse over long distances, or as a natural product of the curation of the body above ground in a dry environment, during an extended funeral ritual. This combination of archaeological and forensic analysis has yielded important insights into the burial practices of the Moche. / El presente artículo trata sobre una muestra de entierros humanos del sitio arqueológico precolombino de San José de Moro. Este se encuentra en el desierto costero del norte del país y la muestra data de la última mitad del período mochica (450 AD-750 AD). Muchos de estos entierros muestran varios grados de desarticulación. El análisis estratigráfico ha demostrado que esta disturbación no pudo ser producto de fuerzas post-deposicionales. Más aún, el análisis en la distribución de los huesos dentro de las tumbas y una revisión del proceso de descomposición corporal sugieren que esta disturbación se llevó a cabo antes de que los cuerpos fueran colocados en sus tumbas. Los resultados indican que los cadáveres fueron total o parcialmente momificados antes del entierro y que la desarticulación ocurrió cuando el cuerpo, momificado y frágil, fue colocado dentro de la tumba. El cuerpo fue momificado tanto como una medida deliberada antes del transporte del cadáver a través de largas distancias y como resultado natural de curación del cuerpo sobre la tierra en un ambiente seco durante un ritual funerario prolongado. Esta combinación de análisis arqueológico y forense ha producido nuevos e importantes datos acerca de las prácticas funerarias mochicas.

L’estimation de l’âge au décès d’individus découverts en contexte médico-légal ou ar-chéologique est un sujet fondamental. La cémentochronologie fondée sur le dépôt annuel de cément acellulaire est une technique parmi les plus performantes dont l’exactitude est appréciée dans de nombreuses publications. Cependant, le manque de standardisation ralentit l’adoption de cette méthode et freine l’étude de la précision qui demeure méconnue tout comme l’impact des conditions taphonomiques sur sa fiabilité. Le premier objectif de ce travail est de mesurer la concordance des estimations effectuées, donc la précision, puis d’évaluer l’exactitude, donc la qualité de l’accord entre l’âge estimé et l’âge chronologique, en appliquant un protocole standardisé et certifié ISO-9001 pour s’affranchir des biais inhérents à la préparation. Le second objectif est d’apprécier l’impact des affections taphonomiques trop souvent négligées. La collecte des données à partir de préparations histologiques dentaires représente une opération coûteuse en temps et constitue un obstacle majeur pour conduire des études cémentochronologiques. Nous nous fixons comme autre objectif d’expérimenter un logiciel de comptage semi-automatique, fruit d’une collaboration entre anthropologues (UTML) et développeurs (FEI Visualization Sciences Group). Pour atteindre ces buts, l’étude porte sur 2000 lames histologiques réalisées à partir de 400 canines. 200 canines sont issues de collections de référence dont l’âge, le sexe, l’intervalle postmortem et la durée d’inhumation des sujets sont connus. Afin d’apprécier l’influence de la taphonomie sur la lisibilité et la précision et d’étudier l’applicabilité de la méthode à du matériel ancien, 200 canines extraites de sujets archéologiques datés entre le XIIe et le XVIIIe siècle sont intégrées à l’étude. Précision et exactitude sont approchées pour chaque classe d’âge et en tenant compte des intervalles post-mortem et des affections taphonomiques, mettant ainsi en évidence une fiabilité qui est fonction de l’âge du sujet, mais aussi de l’état de conservation des tissus. Ce travail vise, sur un échantillon standardisé conséquent, à amener une discussion sur les performances de la cémentochronologie à l’échelle individuelle et populationnelle, à apporter des recommandations et proposer un modèle de prédiction pour minimiser les différences entre âge estimé et âge chronologique. / Age at death estimation is a fundamental component of creating a biological profile in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts. Cementochronology based on annual deposition of acellular cementum is one of the most effective ageing techniques, and its accuracy, i.e. the agreement between estimated age and chronological age, is acknowledged in many publications. However, the lack of standardization slows down the adoption of this method and hinders the evaluation of its precision that remains unknown as well as the impact of taphonomical processes. The first objective of this thesis is to measure the agreement between cementum estimates, i.e. the precision, and then to assess the accuracy through the evaluation of the quality of the accordance between chronological age and estimates based on a standardized and ISO-9001 certified protocol to overcome bias due to sample preparation. The second objective is to gauge the impact of taphonomical effects too often neglected. Counting cementum increments on histological preparations is time-consuming and represents a major difficulty to perform cementochronological studies. Another goal is to experiment a semi-automatic program resulting from a col-laboration between anthropologists (UTML) and software developers (FEI Visualization Sciences Group). To achieve these goals, our study is based on 2000 histological sections from 400 canines. 200 canines are derived from reference collections with documented age, sex, postmortem interval and burial duration. In order to grasp the influence of taphonomy on slices readability and on precision and to investigate the applicability of this method on ancient material, 200 canines extracted from archaeological assemblages dated between the XIIth century and XVIIIth century are included in the study. Accuracy and precision are assessed for each age group in considering post-mortem intervals and taphonomical conditions and show a reliability influenced by age but also by tissue preservation. This work aims, on a large standardized sample, to discuss cementochronology’s performance for individual and population approaches, to provide recommen-dations and to propose a prediction model to reduce differences between estimated age and chronological age.

O presente trabalho tem como enfoque o estudo de foraminíferos planctônicos, na margem continental Sudeste Brasileira, entre São Sebastião, SP e Cabo de São Tomé, RJ através do levantamento das espécies existentes no plâncton. Buscou conhecer a distribuição sazonal e vertical na coluna d?água (0 a 100 m de profundidade) das espécies de foraminíferos planctônicos, correlacionar a presença desses organismos a fatores abióticos e bióticos no meio ambiente. Comparar a composição da biocenose e da tanatocenose assim como, realizar análise tafonômica das carapaças depositadas no fundo oceânico, a fim de avaliar o registro sedimentar desses organismos e considerar a utilização de assinaturas tafonômicas em carapaças de foraminíferos planctônicos na compreensão dos processos hidrodinâmicos na área de estudo. Para isso, foram analisadas amostras de plâncton, coletadas no verão/2002 e inverno/2002, e amostras de sedimento. Foram aplicadas metodologias usuais em análises de foraminíferos planctônicos. Foi possível reconhecer que há grande diferença sazonal na abundância e no tamanho de foraminíferos planctônicos na margem continental Sudeste Brasileira. A distribuição vertical desses organismos no verão parece estar relacionada à profundidade da camada de mistura, variação da temperatura na água, e à cadeia alimentar. No intervalo de profundidade entre 0 m e 40 m, predominam Globigerinoides ruber (pink) e Globigerinoides ruber (white). As espécies Globigerina bulloides, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei e Globigerinella siphonifera predominam entre 40 m e 60 m de profundidade, ao passo que entre 60 m e 80 m de profundidade ocorrem Globorotalia menardii, Orbulina universa e Globigerina falconenis. O registro sedimentar das espécies de foraminíferos planctônicos encontrado na área de estudo reflete a biocenose, podendo assim ser utilizado em análises ambientais e paleoceanográficas. As assinaturas tafonômicas observadas refletem as condições hidrodinâmicas locais. / The present work focuses on the study of planktonic foraminifera on the southeast Brazilian continental margin between São Sebastião, SP and São Tomé, RJ. This was done by means of a survey of the existing species in the plankton. The seasonal and vertical distribution in the water column (0-100 m depth) of the planktonic foraminifera species was also determined. In addition, a comparison of the biocenose and of the tatocenose was carried out as well as a tafonomic analysis of the tests deposited in the bottom. This was done in order to evaluate the sedimentary record of these organisms and consider the possibility of using tafonomic signatures in planktonic foraminifera tests in order to better understand the hydrodynamic processes in the study area. For this, plankton samples collected in the summer and winter of 2002, as well as sediment samples, were analyzed. Methodologies common to planktonic foraminfera analysis were applied. The results show that there is a great seasonal difference in abundance and size of the planktonic foraminifera on the southeast Brazilian continental margin. The vertical distribution of these animals in the summer seems to be related to the depth of the mixture layer, variations in water temperature, and to the food chain. In the depth interval between 0 m and 40 m, there was a predominance of Globigerinoides ruber (pink) and Globigerinoides ruber (white). The species Globigerina bulloides, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei and Globigerinella siphonifera are predominate between 40 and 60 m. On the other hand, between 60 and 80 m Globorotalia menardii, Orbulina universa and Globigerina falconenis occur in greater quantities. The sedimentary record of the species of planktonic foraminifera found in the study area reflect the biocenose, being therefore appropriate for the usage in environmental and paleoceanographic analyses. The tafonomic signatures observed reflect the local hydrodynamic conditions.

No Brasil, os sítios arqueológicos conhecidos como \"Sambaquis\" estão geograficamente distribuídos ao longo da linha costeira e também perto de alguns rios e regiões lagunares. As análises tafonômicas foram aplicadas aos estudos dos remanescentes ósseos humanos recuperados dos sítios arqueológicos, denominados \"Sambaquis fluviais\", Capelinha, Moraes e Pavão XVI todos eles localizados no vale do rio Ribeira de Iguape, no sul do estado de São Paulo, distantes aproximadamente 30 km da linha costeira. Nesta pesquisa espero apresentar, que mesmo com a observação e análise de fragmentos ósseos, podemos contribuir com algumas hipóteses sobre os rituais funerários e os processos de formação, preservação e destruição dos sepultamentos e se possível dos sítios arqueológicos em questão. Nestas análises usei a fragmentação do osso como uma fonte de informações sobre as diferenças entre quebras ante-mortem, peri-mortem e pos-mortem. Procuramos também observar as relações entre os tipos de fraturas, o stress biomecânico e alguns outros agentes tafonômicos que estariam relacionadas com a fragmentação dos elementos ósseos no sepultamento. Quebras recentes podem ser diferenciadas de quebras antigas e este foi uma das observações coletadas. A variável \"weathering bone\" foi utilizada como um indicador de exposição do osso ao sol. Observei também os processos de cremação e marcas de fogo, marcas de cortes, ação de fungos, ação de raízes e a ação de animais. As variáveis foram computadas levando-se em consideração as suas posições em cada elemento ósseo. Nos resultados não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre a preservação óssea entre os sexos. Já a presença de restos esqueletais infantis corrobora a hipótese que a preservação óssea esta associada a praticas funerárias e a composição química dos depósitos conchíferos, mas que ela depende muito dos procedimentos de exumação. Com relação à diferença de preservação entre os níveis arqueológicos, os indivíduos nas camadas intermediarias apresentam mais ossos íntegros do que as camadas iniciais e finais. A variável \'buraco tafonômico\" apresentou mais ocorrências nos indivíduos das camadas intermediarias e de base e atingiu praticamente todos os indivíduos dos três sítios. Foram analisados praticamente 10.000 fragmentos e ossos íntegros. / In Brazil, the archaeological sites known as \"Sambaquis\" - shell-mounds are geographically distributed in the coastal line and near by some rivers too. The taphonomic analyses are been applied to the study of the human bones recovered from the shell-mounds sites Capelinha, Moraes and Pavão XVI all them from the valley of the river Ribeira de Iguape, South of São Paulo State, distant from the coastal line approximately 20 miles/30 km. In this brief\'s presentation I expect to show that even with fragments of bones we can contributed with some hypothesis about burial rituals and the formation process of the archaeological sites. In these analyses I use the fragmentation of the bone as one source of information about the differences between an ante-mortem, peri-mortem and pos-mortem fractures. Looking for relations between types of fractures, biomechanics aspects and position of the bones in the burial as others different types of taphonomic agents that should influenced the bone fragmentation. Recent fractures can be distinguished from old ones, and the excavation and posexcavation (laboratory) treatment should be seen as one taphonomic agent too. Weathering bone was used as an indicator of the exposure of bone to the sun. I look for fire/cremation process, cut marks, fungal actions, roots damage and animal damage too. The variables was scored by it\'s the position in each bone recovered. In the results, I\'d not found significant differences between the bone preservation between the sex. Already the presence of infantile skeletal remaining portions corroborates the hypothesis that the bone preservation it is associated with the funerary and the chemical composition of the shell-mounds deposits, but that depends very on the exhumation procedures. With regard to the difference of preservation between the archaeological levels, the individuals in the layers intermediate would present more complete bones that from the initial and final layers. The variable \"tafonomic hole\" presented more occurrences in the individuals of the layers intermediate and base and it was present in all individuals from the three sites. It\'s been analyzed almost 10.000 human bones and fragments.