Thesis (Honors)--College of William and Mary, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-37). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Bibliography: leaves 228-242.

This thesis is one step in defining the parameters of archaeology in an aboriginal context. It is designed to be a practical guide for imagining the past from an internalist perspective because archaeological methods offer the opportunity to represent antiquity that is simultaneously rational and familiar. However, an ancillary objective is to utilize symbols from antiquity as markers of modern Indian identity. / Archaeology appeared on the radar of First Nations because their growing populations demand housing and economic opportunities. Recent settlement of land claims has brought large tracts of land under the control of Native people. Archaeological sites, by their very nature, are defined by their geographical location. Artifacts and sites are the products of past human labour and as such are a unique cultural legacy that must be understood within the context of a generalized world history. Internalist archaeology mediates between a local understanding of antiquity and the ancient history of humanity on a global scale. It is a product of the dialogue that began when the world system intruded on the local experience of aboriginal people. Modern prehistory was accessible only by employing archaeological methods and traditional history, as related in story, was relegated to the margins along with its authors. Myths were discounted as plausible sources of explanation for antiquity as archaeologists constructed their theories to explain the data they accumulated during their excavations. Internalist archaeology is an analytical tool that will play a prominent role in rehabilitating oral narratives by deploying methods to search for the signatures they would leave in the archaeological record. It is also a means to examine folklore so as to discover the messages that are encoded in myths. Myths act as mediating devices which connect the high levels of abstraction, those informing the traditional worldview, with lower levels of abstractions, as represented by customs. Ecological messages are encrypted in narratives which are then transmitted between generations. Each generation must decypher the meaning embedded in a myth to benefit from it. For internalist archaeology, mythology is a reservoir of explanation that has been ignored by mainstream research but which can be the basis for this brand of archaeological research. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

The aim of this thesis is to examine the scale of human migration in three prehistoric settlements in the Upper Mun River Valley (UMRV) Northeast Thailand, from c. 1700BC - AD500. Archaeological data implies migration may have had a central role in the development of agriculture and later metal technology in the region, which is suggested to show increased social complexity over this important stage in the development of states in mainland Southeast Asia. The scale of these migrations, however, are not known and based on archaeological evidence it is unclear whether there were large numbers of individuals migrating into the region in order to bring about the changes seen in the archaeological record. Two potentially complementary-methods are used to identify the extent of migration in the UMRV in this thesis. The first method, the study of dental morphological traits, is used as an indication of genotype of 78 prehistoric individuals. The second method is isotope analysis of the dental enamel of 74 individuals, used as indicators of childhood residence and diet. Strontium (Sr), Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O) isotopes are analysed. The first method reflects an individual�s genetic heritage through inherited traits, while the second method is an indication of an individual�s migration during their lifetime. Together, these methods may provide a powerful means to assess the scale of migration over an extended period of time in this region. As it has been posited that the introduction of agriculture is related to migration of people into the region, the current study hypothesises that while immigrants would be identified from outside the UMRV during all phases of occupation at the sites, this would be particularly so during the earlier phases. It is also hypothesised through analysis of the morphological traits that genetic relationships at each site could be suggested. Finally, it is also hypothesised that individuals with evidence for infectious diseases, which are otherwise rare in the region, would be immigrants. The frequencies of the dental morphological traits at each site are calculated, and a local pattern for each site developed. The results from the morphological traits suggest low levels of migration into the UMRV, and overall group homogeneity. Despite this homogeneity, it is suggested that several individuals may have been from a different genetic pool to others at the sites, reflected in a different combination of dental traits. There is also some evidence for genetic relationships between individuals, and over time, possibly indicating familial relationships at the sites. Stability in the Sr isotopes over time suggest a local signature for the UMRV. Sr isotopes did not support a hypothesis of large-scale immigration into the UMRV, as there were few isotopic outliers identified. Those individuals with clear outlier Sr results, and therefore probable immigrants, were predominately female. All phases of occupation of the UMRV attracted some long-range inward movement of people, although the data suggests long-range migration diminished over time. [delta]��C values show no significant change over time, possibly supporting the Sr data of limited migration into the region. While the interpretation of this isotope is primarily from a perspective of migration it is recognised that this may be limited to understanding variation in diet in the individuals. [delta]�⁸O values show significant change over time (p = 0.00, ANOVA), perhaps consistent with previous research which suggested increased aridity in the UMRV. An alternative explanation of the [delta]�⁸O data is that migration increased with time, with people who were differentiated by their O isotopes but not their Sr, however the increased aridity hypothesis is favoured here. The hypothesis that individuals with evidence for infectious disease would be long-range immigrants into the region is rejected. None of the individuals who had physical evidence for infectious disease had chemical data to support their being immigrants. The putative migrants to the UMRV are presented as case studies, assessing the complementarity of the methods used. It is argued that given the changes in the environment over time in the UMRV the area may have become less attractive to immigrants and as a result the communities may have become more insular. The data yielded from the two methods have demonstrated the value of using inherited dental traits together with isotopic data of individual migration for investigating human mobility in the past. Using these methods, this study shows that there were low levels of migration into the UMRV and that long-range migration was more frequent in the earliest phases of occupation in the region.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Nevada, Reno, 2008. / "May 2008." Includes bibliographical references. Online version available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2006. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 277-291). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Les figurines néolithiques de la Thessalie est un sujet très débattu. Dans le cadre d'une recherche fortement focalisée sur les qualités morphologiques des figurines, nous considérons indispensable d'aborder un aspect constamment négligé, à savoir leur fabrication. Fondée sur les principes de la technologie culturelle, notre étude vise non seulement à reconstituer les processus techniques de la fabrication des figurines néolithiques depuis la préparation des matières premières, jusqu'au produit fini, mais aussi de repenser les connotations imaginaires du déroulement de ces procédés et de considérer leurs implications culturelles multiples. En utilisant l'outil analytique de la chaîne opératoire, nous avons entrepris une étude technologique des figurines provenant de différents sites en Thessalie, afin de reconstituer le processus de leur fabrication. L'identification des chaînes opératoires particulières nous a permis de circonscrire la physionomie de la production idoloplastique et d'aborder, dans un deuxième temps, la fonction des figurines. Considérant que la fabrication fait partie intégrante de la fonction, nous avons jugé indispensable de nous tourner vers l'ethnologie, afin de nous procurer des exemples qui pourraient servir de références susceptibles d'éclairer nos données archéologiques. Deux enquêtes ethnographiques dans l'Anti-Atlas marocain et le recours à l'expérience anthropologique nous ont permis d'éclairer l'organisation de la production des figurines néolithiques de la Thessalie et leurs fonctions possibles. / The neolithic figurines of Thessaly is a subject that has sparkled many debates. In the context of a research strongly focused on the morphological qualities of the figurines we consider it essential, to address a constantly neglected aspect, their manufacture. Based on the principles of cultural technology, our aim is not only to identify the technical processes involved in the manufacture of neolithic figurines, from the preparation of the raw materials to the finished product, but also to rethink the imaginary connotations of these processes and to consider their multiple cultural implications. Using the analytical tool of the chaîne opératoire, we undertook a technological study of figurines from different sites in Thessaly, in order to reconstruct the processes of manufacture. The identification of the particular chaînes opératoires allowed us to circumscribe the physiognomy of idoloplastic production and then to address the question of the function of the figurines. Considering that manufacturing is an integral part of the function, we considered it indispensable to turn to ethnology, in order to obtain examples that could serve as references and thus help us to interpret the archaeological data. Two ethnographic surveys in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas and the appeal to the anthropological experience, have allowed us to reconstruct the organization of the production of neolithic figurines of Thessaly and their possible functions.

The study presented herein involves the analyze of the meanings of the use and manufacture of ceramic pots to store and cool water in Cariri Ceara within an etnoarqueológica perspective. The intention is to discuss issues related to the problem contrast between the know-how and the pressure of the regional consumer market, which influenced the practice of application those slots containers in recent thirty-five years. This discussion allows reflection on cultural transformations in the context of agro-pastoral society semiarid where observes the decrease of the use and production of ceramic containers, which provides investigate changes in habits among rural people. Through participant observation and interviews senses were seized inherent in the production of pots, allowing discuss some situations around the technology involved and practices designed to containers. The test is performed through assumptions of contextual archeology added to analytical mechanisms from the agency theory and the biography of objects to interpret the meanings of practices related to those containers. This choice implies incorporate strategies from various disciplines through tangible and intangible sources to analyze and build arising interpretations of speeches of the people themselves studied and represented the theme focused. As a result, there is the idea of the principle that the application of grooves on the outer surface of the ceramic pots is made for daily use in cooling the temperature of the stored water, assessment which takes into account the credibility of brushing in producing ceramic cores and daily negotiations between consumers and traders. / O estudo ora apresentado envolve a análise dos significados do uso e fabricação de potes cerâmicos para armazenar e esfriar água no Cariri cearense dentro de uma perspectiva etnoarqueológica. A intenção é discutir questões relativas ao problema do contraste entre o saber fazer e a pressão do mercado de consumo regional, que influenciou a prática de aplicação de ranhuras naqueles recipientes nos últimos trinta e cinco anos. Esta discussão possibilita refletir sobre transformações culturais no contexto da sociedade agropastoril do semiárido, onde se observa o decréscimo da utilização e produção dos vasilhames cerâmicos, que propicia investigar mudanças de hábitos entre os habitantes da zona rural. Através da observação participante e de entrevistas foram apreendidos os sentidos inerentes à produção de potes, permitindo problematizar algumas situações em torno da tecnologia envolvida e das práticas destinadas aos recipientes. O exame é realizado através de pressupostos da arqueologia contextual somados a mecanismos analíticos provenientes da teoria da agência e da biografia dos objetos para interpretar os significados das práticas relativas àqueles vasilhames. Esta escolha implica incorporar estratégias de várias disciplinas através de fontes materiais e imateriais para analisar e construir interpretações surgidas dos discursos das próprias pessoas estudadas e representadas pelo tema enfocado. Como resultado tem-se a princípio a ideia de que a aplicação de ranhuras na superfície externa dos potes cerâmicos é realizada para obter no uso diário o arrefecimento da temperatura da água armazenada, avaliação que leva em conta a credibilidade da escovação nos núcleos produtores de cerâmica e nas negociações cotidianas entre consumidores e comerciantes.

O presente trabalho constitui um esforço em entender de que formas as plantas cultivadas e perdidas dos Asurini do Rio Xingu (Amazônia) exercem papéis sociais, simbólicos e identitários para este povo, e como estas plantas são incorporadas pelos Asurini em narrativas sobre o seu passado recente. Através de trabalho de campo nas aldeias Itaaka e Kwatinemu Novo, a pesquisa se utilizou das seguintes abordagens: o levantamento bibliográfico sobre a agricultura Asurini; a observação de práticas agrícolas em roças atuais e a visita a roças antigas; a realização de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com mulheres e homens Asurini; a análise de microvestígios botânicos (grãos de amido e fitólitos) de etapas do processamento de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) observadas em campo, especialmente da produção de farinha. Os dados obtidos por estes diferentes métodos são discutidos tendo em vista o papel social que as plantas atualmente cultivadas e as plantas perdidas na história recente exercem entre os Asurini na atualidade. É também discutido de que forma o estudo da agricultura e o consumo de plantas cultivadas entre os Asurini no passado possa ser uma abordagem frutífera para se pensar o presente e o futuro deste povo. / The present work constitutes an effort in understanding in what ways do the cultivated and lost plants of the Asurini of the Xingu River (Amazon) play important social, symbolic and identitary roles for this people, and how these plants are incorporated by the Asurini in narratives regarding their recent past. Through fieldwork in the villages of Itaaka and Kwatinemu Novo, the research utilized the following approaches: a bibliographical survey regarding Asurini agriculture; the observation of agricultural practices in current cultivating fields and the visiting of old fields; the conducting of semi-structured interviews with Asurini women and men; the analysis of botanical microvestiges (starch grains and phyoliths) from manihot (Manihot esculenta Crantz) processing stages observed in the field, especially of flour production. The data obtained by these different methods are discussed regarding the social role that currently cultivated plants and plants lost in recent history exert on the Asurini in modern days. It is also discussed in what way can the study of agriculture and cultivated plant use amongst the Asurini in the past be a fructiferous approach for reflecting on the present and future of this people.

No description available.