A recent upsurge exists of archaeologists using ancient hair as a research tool, with new uses of this previously discarded archaeological material being introduced annually. Human hair deteriorates extremely slowly, and since the average modern human sheds approximately one hundred hairs per day, there should be copious amounts of hair debris left behind after humans leave a site; it is just a matter of how much of the hair survives in the archaeological environment. Most loose hair recovered from archaeological sites, however, is found fortuitously and in many cases, because archaeologists were not actively searching for ancient hair, it is possible they tainted the hair they later tested in ways that compromised their data, or more importantly contaminated their samples with modern hair and did not test ancient hair at all. No standardized method has previously been established for searching for ancient hair in an archaeological site. This paper considers (a) a method of soil extraction in the field that avoids contamination with modern hair and elements that might hinder later test data; (b) the processing of samples in the laboratory while continuing sample integrity; (c) identification of the types of soils and environments that are most favorable to hair preservation; and (d) an examination of the relevance of hair extraction from sites including the practicality and research potential. This paper examines five archaeological sites, using three different methods of hair extraction, examining the pros and cons of each. This should enable future researchers to find a method that works best for their particular site. It also analyzes the soil chemistry of the sites in order to study the soil and hair survival relationship, so that scientists can better determine which soils hold the best potential for hair survival. Laboratory methods that avoid contamination of the samples are also outlined in order to help researchers keep sample integrity after leaving the archaeological site.

A recent upsurge exists of archaeologists using ancient hair as a research tool, with new uses of this previously discarded archaeological material being introduced annually. Human hair deteriorates extremely slowly, and since the average modern human sheds approximately one hundred hairs per day, there should be copious amounts of hair debris left behind after humans leave a site; it is just a matter of how much of the hair survives in the archaeological environment. Most loose hair recovered from archaeological sites, however, is found fortuitously and in many cases, because archaeologists were not actively searching for ancient hair, it is possible they tainted the hair they later tested in ways that compromised their data, or more importantly contaminated their samples with modern hair and did not test ancient hair at all. No standardized method has previously been established for searching for ancient hair in an archaeological site. This paper considers (a) a method of soil extraction in the field that avoids contamination with modern hair and elements that might hinder later test data; (b) the processing of samples in the laboratory while continuing sample integrity; (c) identification of the types of soils and environments that are most favorable to hair preservation; and (d) an examination of the relevance of hair extraction from sites including the practicality and research potential. This paper examines five archaeological sites, using three different methods of hair extraction, examining the pros and cons of each. This should enable future researchers to find a method that works best for their particular site. It also analyzes the soil chemistry of the sites in order to study the soil and hair survival relationship, so that scientists can better determine which soils hold the best potential for hair survival. Laboratory methods that avoid contamination of the samples are also outlined in order to help researchers keep sample integrity after leaving the archaeological site.

Orientador: Sonia Regina de Cal Seixas / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciencias Humanas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T20:59:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Peres_SilviaMigueldePaula_D.pdf: 2267164 bytes, checksum: 6f0a8de998a054fce4f73733d77a3b3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Esta tese discute os processos saúde-doença a partir de enfoques diferenciados, ligados às vertentes terapêuticas atuantes no município de Ilhabela, SP. A maneira como cada terapeuta articula o conhecimento adquirido à sua prática de curar, traz a tona a questão da pluralidade cognitiva, reveladora de heterogêneas dimensões do ambiente incorporadas na saúde. Nesse aspecto, as vertentes terapêuticas se movimentam no interior de um amplo campo analógico que emerge das infinitas relações entre o ser-humano e a natureza, buscando soluções e metodologias das mais variadas para se alcançar a eficácia do tratamento, transcendendo a relação de causa e efeito linear. A partir do conceito de corporalidade, que remete à concepção do corpo como um feixe de relações que ultrapassam a cisão natureza/cultura, esta pesquisa se abre para a conexão do corpo com seu hábitat, pelo conceito de saúde ecossistêmica, buscando integrar à compreensão da saúde humana, a esfera socioambiental. Almejando contribuir para o debate aberto pelas discussões atuais em saúde e ambiente, a tese procurou dar conta da elaboração de uma dimensão orgânica - traduzida pelos processos históricos de urbanização e de degradação ambiental em Ilhabela, associados aos padrões saúde-doença mais evidenciados no município - até alcançar a dimensão simbólica - que remete às analogias recuperadas pelas diferentes vertentes terapêuticas - para, dessa maneira, pensar os processos de cura como resultado de uma interação saudável do ser humano com seu meio, abrindo perspectivas para a discussão da sustentabilidade a partir desses pressupostos. / Abstract: This thesis discusses the processes of health and disease from different methodological approaches related to therapeutic aspects in Ilhabela, SP. The way each therapist articulates their knowledge to their practice of healing, brings up the question of cognitive diversity, evidence of heterogeneous dimensions of the environment in health. The therapeutic aspects move within a broad field that emerges from the analog infinite relations between human beings and nature, looking for solutions to a variety of methodologies to achieve the effectiveness of treatment, going beyond the relationship of cause and linear effect. Based on the concept of corporality, which refers to the conception of the body as a series of relationships that go beyond the separation of nature/culture, this research opens the connection to the body with its habitat, the concept of ecosystem health, seeking to integrate the understanding of human health, the socioenvironmental sphere. Willing to contribute to the debate initiated by the current discussions in health and environment, this thesis was focused for the development of an organic imension - translated by historical processes of urbanization and environmental degradation in Ilhabela, associated with health and disease patterns more evident in the city - to reach the symbolic dimension - referring to the analogies recovered by the different therapeutic elements- in this way, think the healing process as a result of a healthy interaction of human beings and their environment, opening up the discussion of sustainability from these assumptions. / Doutorado / Aspectos Sociais de Sustentabilidade e Conservação / Doutor em Ambiente e Sociedade