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Title: USING GIS TO DETERMINE THE INFLUENCE OF WETLANDS ON CAYUGA IROQUOIS SETTLEMENT LOCATION STRATEGIES.
Creator: Birnbaum, David, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The archaeological record of the Iroquois supports that settlements were regularly relocated during the protohistoric period (1500-1650 A.D.). With the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer software, archaeologists may analyze variables potentially resulting in or influencing the movement of settlements. Through the use of spatial analysis, I argue that Cayuga Iroquois settlement locations were influenced by the environmental characteristics of their surrounding landscape....
Show moreThe archaeological record of the Iroquois supports that settlements were regularly relocated during the protohistoric period (1500-1650 A.D.). With the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer software, archaeologists may analyze variables potentially resulting in or influencing the movement of settlements. Through the use of spatial analysis, I argue that Cayuga Iroquois settlement locations were influenced by the environmental characteristics of their surrounding landscape. Specifically, wetlands are believed to have influenced settlement location choices in central New York state. This study examines the spatial relationships between wetland habitats and protohistoric period Cayuga Iroquois settlements where swidden maize agriculture comprised most of the diet. Considering previous research that has linked the movement of settlements to Iroquois agricultural practices, I hypothesize that wetlands played a significant role in the Iroquois subsistence system by providing supplementary plant and animal resources to a diet primarily characterized by maize consumption, and thereby influenced the strategy behind settlement relocation. Nine Cayuga Iroquois settlements dating to the protohistoric period were selected for analysis using GIS. Two control groups, each consisting of nine random points, were generated for comparison. Distance buffers show the amount of wetlands that are situated within 1-, 2.5-, and 5-kilometers from Cayuga settlements and random points. The total number of wetlands within proximity of these distances to the settlements and random points are recorded and analyzed. The results indicate a statistical significance regarding the prominence of wetlands within the landscape which pertains to the Cayuga Iroquois settlement strategy.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFH0004118, ucf:44873
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH0004118

Title: Testing the Capability of Close-Range Photogrammetry to Document Outdoor Forensic Scenes With Skeletal Remains Using Mock Scenarios.
Creator: Gidusko, Kevin, Schultz, John, Branting, Scott, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: More rigorous methodological protocols are needed to document outdoor forensic scenes containing skeletal remains. However, law enforcement protocols rarely provide specific guidelines for processing these scenes. Regardless, the need to preserve contextual information at crime scenes is of paramount importance and it is worth exploring new technological applications that will allow for better documentation. Close-range photogrammetry (CRP) is one option for outdoor scene documentation, more...
Show moreMore rigorous methodological protocols are needed to document outdoor forensic scenes containing skeletal remains. However, law enforcement protocols rarely provide specific guidelines for processing these scenes. Regardless, the need to preserve contextual information at crime scenes is of paramount importance and it is worth exploring new technological applications that will allow for better documentation. Close-range photogrammetry (CRP) is one option for outdoor scene documentation, more prominently utilized in archaeological contexts, that may provide forensic archaeologists with a tool to better document these scenarios via 3D modeling. To test the efficacy of CRP as documentation tool three mock scenarios representing common outdoor scenes were created using faux osteological material: a close scatter of osteological remains in a pine flatwood setting, a wide scatter of osteological remains in the same setting, and the partial excavation of skeletonized remains. Images were collected using a digital camera and processed using Agisoft Photoscan Professional. A series of variables were tested in successive iterations of data capture for each scenario to determine best practices for overall accuracy: camera images captured by hand versus fixed to a tripod, scale bar positioning, and number of images captured. Accuracy was determined via final root mean square error values and through a comparison between real-world to virtual measurements. Results show that CRP is a cost and time-effective method of documenting contextual data at a scene via the creation of 3D models and scaled orthomosaic images. This method is most useful for the documentation of excavations owing to the controlled and contrasted sub-surface in comparison to the subject material. The two scatter scenarios offered additional challenges due to the complexity of the ground covering, however models nonetheless provided accurate contextual detail and errors may be mitigated through proper data capture. There was little difference in the variables for image capture, scale bar placement, or number of images. Instead, the quality of images, image capture method, and post-processing operations proved to be more important. Due to the ease of use and the ability to convey best practices for data capture, the utilization of CRP for outdoor scene documentation is recommended as a valuable addition to current forensic documentation protocols. Future research should focus on the utilization of actual osteological material as a proxy for forensic scenarios as well as study the applicability of CRP to assist in documenting taphonomic modifications.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007182, ucf:52261
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007182

Title: Analyzing Pre-Inhumation Breakage Ceramics at Lamanai, Belize: A Conjunctive Approach.
Creator: Enger, Ryan, Callaghan, Michael, Kovacevich, Brigitte, Williams, Lana, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: During the Terminal Classic period (9th-10th centuries A.D.), the ancient Maya at Lamanai, Belize, began to practice pre-inhumation breakage of ceramics in mortuary contexts. Previously, the custom had been to bury whole vessels with the deceased. This conspicuous shift in behavior suggests important changes in beliefs regarding the role of ceramics in death and interment at a pivotal moment in ancient Maya culture history. Despite this significant change, there has been no published research...
Show moreDuring the Terminal Classic period (9th-10th centuries A.D.), the ancient Maya at Lamanai, Belize, began to practice pre-inhumation breakage of ceramics in mortuary contexts. Previously, the custom had been to bury whole vessels with the deceased. This conspicuous shift in behavior suggests important changes in beliefs regarding the role of ceramics in death and interment at a pivotal moment in ancient Maya culture history. Despite this significant change, there has been no published research conducted specifically on these vessels. In fact, there has been no clearly delineated set of characteristics for what qualifies as a pre-inhumation breakage vessel (PBV). This study offers a working definition for PBVs and converts the original Lamanai grave descriptions of those that contain PBVs to a classification system for ease of future comparative analyses. Finally, the sex and age of individuals buried with PBVs are considered. The result is a conjunctive analysis that provides data not only on PBV forms and quantities, grave types, and the sex and age of those interred with PBVs, but also several statistically significant correlations among these variables. I argue that the conjoined data suggest that one of the primary purposes for the pre-inhumation breakage of ceramics in mortuary contexts was a strategic one, a method selected by Lamanai leadership, and enacted community-wide, as a way to protect the community from potentially harmful energies and to maintain communal confidence at a time of great uncertainty in the southern Maya lowlands.
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Date Issued: 2019
Identifier: CFE0007801, ucf:52343
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007801

Title: Detecting Submerged Remains: Controlled Research Using Side-Scan Sonar to Detect Proxy Cadavers.
Creator: Healy, Carrie, Schultz, John, Dupras, Tosha, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: While side-scan sonar has become a valuable geophysical tool for forensic water searches, controlled research is paramount to determine the best practices for searches in aquatic environments as it provides a structured environment in which to investigate variables that influence the effectiveness of the technology and provides valuable experience for sonar operators. The purpose of this research is to conduct controlled research in order to evaluate the applicability of side-scan sonar to...
Show moreWhile side-scan sonar has become a valuable geophysical tool for forensic water searches, controlled research is paramount to determine the best practices for searches in aquatic environments as it provides a structured environment in which to investigate variables that influence the effectiveness of the technology and provides valuable experience for sonar operators. The purpose of this research is to conduct controlled research in order to evaluate the applicability of side-scan sonar to searches involving submerged firearms and proxy cadavers. In addition, the best practices for employing this technology in forensic searches in freshwater ponds and lakes in a humid, subtropical environment in Central Florida would be developed. Five street-level firearms were submerged in a pond, and two sets of three pig carcasses (Sus scrofa), utilized as proxies for human bodies, were staked to the bottom of a pond for this research. Transects were conducted over the firearms and the pig carcasses utilizing side-scan sonar. The first set of pig carcasses represented a child size (30-32 kg) and the second set a small adult size (51-54 kg). Results show that firearms were not detected due to the terrain and small size. However, this technology successfully located small to medium-sized proxy carcasses on a flat, sandy lake bottom when experienced operators were conducting the search. Conversely, vegetation obscured submerged bodies. While the smaller carcasses were difficult to detect throughout the data collection, medium-sized carcasses were easily discerned. Moreover, the medium-sized carcasses decomposed at the same rate as previous studies and were visible throughout each stage of decomposition. Finally, employing a 900 kHz frequency with a 20 m swath-width provided the best search parameters. Therefore, in the appropriate conditions,side-scan sonar is an effective tool for locating submerged bodies in freshwater lakes and ponds in a humid, subtropical environment.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004544, ucf:49257
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004544

Title: MONITORING SHALLOW CONTROLLED GRAVES CONTAINING SMALL CADAVERS USING GROUND PENETRATING RADAR.
Creator: Fletcher, Joanna, Schultz, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) can be a useful geophysical instrument in the search and detection of clandestine graves in a forensic context. Controlled research in the field of forensic archaeology has demonstrated the applicability of this technology and is vital for improving GPR search methods. The objectives of this research was to evaluate the applicability of GPR, using 250 MHz and 500 MHz antennae, to locate shallow graves containing small pig cadavers in various burial scenarios...
Show moreGround-penetrating radar (GPR) can be a useful geophysical instrument in the search and detection of clandestine graves in a forensic context. Controlled research in the field of forensic archaeology has demonstrated the applicability of this technology and is vital for improving GPR search methods. The objectives of this research was to evaluate the applicability of GPR, using 250 MHz and 500 MHz antennae, to locate shallow graves containing small pig cadavers in various burial scenarios over a 12 month period. Data was collected on a controlled grid containing six graves at 0.5 m in depth: five graves containing pig carcasses and one control grave. The five graves containing the pig carcasses were devised to test a number of common forensic burial scenarios. The reflection profile data was processed using the computer program REFLEXW. The results demonstrate that the additional grave items did not always increase the detection of the grave for this monitoring period. Further, the low demarcation of the grave containing disturbed backfill illustrated that the hyperbolic reflection features were the result of the pig carcasses and not the disturbed soil. In terms of antenna performance, the 250 MHz data initially provided a higher resolution within the first few months. However, over time the higher detail provided by the 500 MHz data consistently resulted in easily discernable reflections.
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Date Issued: 2011
Identifier: CFE0003592, ucf:48883
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003592

Title: Intrinsic Factors Affecting Decomposition Changes in Archaeological Head Hair from Kellis 2 Cemetery, Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt.
Creator: Cole, Kathleen, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Groff, Amanda, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Post-mortem hair root degradation, and associated characteristics such as post-mortem root banding, brush-like ends, and hard keratin points, has remained a little understood phenomenon in the forensics discipline since its discovery in the 1800's. At present, the underlying causes of these characteristics are still unknown. In addition, there is no standardization for preparing samples for forensic or archaeological analysis. In this study, 1200 hairs from a total of 51 individuals (males, n...
Show morePost-mortem hair root degradation, and associated characteristics such as post-mortem root banding, brush-like ends, and hard keratin points, has remained a little understood phenomenon in the forensics discipline since its discovery in the 1800's. At present, the underlying causes of these characteristics are still unknown. In addition, there is no standardization for preparing samples for forensic or archaeological analysis. In this study, 1200 hairs from a total of 51 individuals (males, n = 22; females, n = 29) ranging in age from 16 to 60+ and interred at the Kellis 2 cemetery in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt are examined microscopically for evidence of post-mortem hair root degradation. These remains date from ~50AD to ~450AD, and all were naturally mummified. The purposes of this thesis are two-fold; 1) to determine the efficacy of two preparation methods, and 2) to examine the intrinsic and extrinsic variables in each hair in order to ascertain the factors that affect the degradation of the human hair root after death. The preparation methods include a dry sample, where the hair is directly removed from the scalp tissue using tweezers, and a wet sample, where a 1cm portion of the scalp was first rehydrated using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 48 hours before the hairs were extracted. Results indicate that when working with naturally mummified remains the wet method provides for easier acquisition of the sample and less chance of breakage before the hair is mounted for observation. This, therefore, provides a larger sample size for analysis.Each hair was observed using polarizing microscopy to determine whether postmortem root degradation was present, the growth stage of the hair, color, pigment density and distribution, pigment aggregate size and shape, medulla continuity and opacity, cuticle scale profile and thickness, inner cuticle margin, and the presence of ovoid bodies. Significant correlations were found between the incidence of postmortem root degradation and the growth stage, hair color, cuticle thickness, cuticle scale profile, and individual's age. The remaining variables did not show any significant correlations.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFE0006577, ucf:51342
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006577

Title: Regional Affiliation in the Lower Rio Verde: An Examination of R(&)#237;o Viejo Middens as Evidence for Scaled-up Practice at Surrounding Sites.
Creator: Lucido, Carlo, Barber, Sarah, Chase, Arlen, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This research project analyzes 5 middens from the Lower Rio Verde valley sites of R(&)#237;o Viejo and Yug(&)#252;e, Oaxaca, Mexico, during the Terminal Formative period (150 BC to AD 250). The middens are analyzed to further our understanding of socio-political events in public spaces at both sites during this time. The study suggests a greater distinction in use of public spaces between the two sites than within R(&)#237;o Viejo. Frameworks established by Dietler and Hayden for the analysis...
Show moreThis research project analyzes 5 middens from the Lower Rio Verde valley sites of R(&)#237;o Viejo and Yug(&)#252;e, Oaxaca, Mexico, during the Terminal Formative period (150 BC to AD 250). The middens are analyzed to further our understanding of socio-political events in public spaces at both sites during this time. The study suggests a greater distinction in use of public spaces between the two sites than within R(&)#237;o Viejo. Frameworks established by Dietler and Hayden for the analysis of feasts do not seem to apply well to the middens analyzed here. Although I argue that evidence from Rio Viejo's middens does not dispute the viability of previous arguments regarding Terminal Formative R(&)#237;o Viejo ritual authorities', potentially elites, efforts to create regional-scale political affiliations, the level to which middens at R(&)#237;o Viejo are evidence of (")scaled-up(") versions of local practices at outlying sites is inconclusive. Though there is potential for larger feasts at R(&)#237;o Viejo, taken alone the Yug(&)#252;e midden appears larger. The R(&)#237;o Viejo middens demonstrate greater likelihood for the diminished conspicuousness of status differentiation during the associated events.
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005653, ucf:50178
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005653

Title: Integrating Differential Global Positioning Systems and Geographic Information Systems for Analysis and Mapping of Skeletal Dispersals.
Creator: Walter, Brittany, Schultz, John, Dupras, Tosha, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Scene mapping is an integral part of processing a forensic scene with scattered human remains. By utilizing the appropriate mapping technique, investigators can accurately document the location of human remains and maintain a precise geospatial record of this evidence at a scene. Global positioning system (GPS) units have been used for years to survey the spatial distribution of large-scale archaeological sites. However, differential global positioning (DGPS) unit now provide decreased...
Show moreScene mapping is an integral part of processing a forensic scene with scattered human remains. By utilizing the appropriate mapping technique, investigators can accurately document the location of human remains and maintain a precise geospatial record of this evidence at a scene. Global positioning system (GPS) units have been used for years to survey the spatial distribution of large-scale archaeological sites. However, differential global positioning (DGPS) unit now provide decreased positional error suitable for small-scale surveys, such as forensic scenes. Because of the lack of knowledge concerning this utility in mapping a scene, controlled research is necessary to determine the practicality of using DGPS in mapping scattered human remains in different environments. The purpose of this research is to quantify the accuracy of a DGPS unit for mapping skeletal dispersals and to determine the applicability of this utility in mapping dispersed remains. First, the accuracy of the DGPS unit was determined using known survey markers in different environments. Secondly, several simulated scenes were constructed and mapped in open, tree-covered, and structure-obstructed environments using the DGPS. Factors considered included the extent of the dispersal, data collection time, and the use of offsets. Data were differentially postprocessed and compared in a geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate the most efficient recordation methods. Results of this study show that the DGPS is a viable option for mapping human remains in open areas. Furthermore, guidelines for accurate scene mapping using a DGPS unit will be provided, along with a discussion concerning the integration of DGPS into GIS for scene analysis and presentation.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004632, ucf:49919
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004632

Title: Which Way to the Jook Joint?: Historical Archaeology of a Polk County, Florida Turpentine Camp.
Creator: Ziel, Deborah, Walker, John, Howard, Rosalyn, Barber, Sarah, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The extraction and distillation of pine sap for the naval stores industry reached its apex of production in the early decades of the twentieth century. Post-emancipation, the industry employed African American labor in the long leaf pine forests of the southeastern United States under a system of debt peonage that replaced the master-slave dynamic with a similar circumscriptive construct. Laborers rented company housing and were paid in scrip, a monetary system that limited their purchase of...
Show moreThe extraction and distillation of pine sap for the naval stores industry reached its apex of production in the early decades of the twentieth century. Post-emancipation, the industry employed African American labor in the long leaf pine forests of the southeastern United States under a system of debt peonage that replaced the master-slave dynamic with a similar circumscriptive construct. Laborers rented company housing and were paid in scrip, a monetary system that limited their purchase of the basic goods of subsistence to the company commissary at inflated prices, resulting in an endless cycle of debt. Despite the oppressive circumstances of debt peonage labor, African Americans developed venues known as (")jook joints(") for the expression of agency through leisure. The jook was a structure where laborers congregated on weekends to socialize, dance, drink, gamble, and fight. The Polk County, Florida turpentine camp of Nalaka was in operation from 1919 until 1928. In 1942, the Nalaka site, and thousands of surrounding acreage, were purchased by the United States Government for use as an Air Force training range in anticipation of US involvement in World War Two. Although no structures survive, artifact scatters from the 1920s remain in situ. No known records exist to document the spatial arrangement of the structures at Nalaka. This study reconstructs the layout of the camp based upon artifact provenience, secondary ethnographic sources, and historical documents, to determine whether or not Nalaka supported a jook joint, and if so, where was its location.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0005080, ucf:50734
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005080

Title: Settlement History and Interaction in the Manialtepec Basin of Oaxaca's Central Coast.
Creator: Menchaca, Victoria, Barber, Sarah, Walker, John, Chase, Arlen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: As the focus of over 70 years' of archaeological research, Oaxaca, Mexico, is one of Mesoamerica's best understood regions. Yet, despite the volume of work in Oaxaca, information about one of its key resource areas, the central Pacific coast, remains limited. Specifically, the ambiguous role of Oaxaca's Central Coast in interregional relationships during pre-Hispanic times to the sites of Monte Alb(&)#225;n and Tututepec has been a chronic problem and major source of debate for decades. The...
Show moreAs the focus of over 70 years' of archaeological research, Oaxaca, Mexico, is one of Mesoamerica's best understood regions. Yet, despite the volume of work in Oaxaca, information about one of its key resource areas, the central Pacific coast, remains limited. Specifically, the ambiguous role of Oaxaca's Central Coast in interregional relationships during pre-Hispanic times to the sites of Monte Alb(&)#225;n and Tututepec has been a chronic problem and major source of debate for decades. The purpose of this thesis is to begin clarifying the role of Oaxaca's Central Coast in interregional networks and its pre-Hispanic history. Analysis utilized surface observations, surface collections, and information from limited excavations performed by the Proyecto Arqueol(&)#243;gico Laguna de Manialtepec (PALM) in the Manialtepec Basin, located on the Central Coast of Oaxaca. The data was then mapped using ArcGIS software to render settlement and artifact patterns. Based on the results of this project I suggest a history of settlement for this area. I also argue that the Basin contained three centers, maintained interregional interactions, and was invaded by the Mixtecs of highland Oaxaca during the Late Postclassic Period (A.D. 1200-1500).
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Date Issued: 2015
Identifier: CFE0005843, ucf:50920
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005843

Title: ARCHAEOLOGICAL GIS ANALYSIS OF RAISED FIELD AGRICULTURE IN THE BOLIVIAN AMAZON.
Creator: Lee, Thomas W, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Modern agricultural systems have been criticized for their detrimental effects on the environment and a general emphasis on crop yield rather than long-term sustainability. Traditional forms of agriculture may provide case-specific examples of sustainable alternatives for contemporary societies. In the seasonally inundated savannas of the Llanos de Mojos, pre-Columbian Indians piled earth into 'large raised field platforms' elevated high enough above the floodplain to allow crops to grow....
Show moreModern agricultural systems have been criticized for their detrimental effects on the environment and a general emphasis on crop yield rather than long-term sustainability. Traditional forms of agriculture may provide case-specific examples of sustainable alternatives for contemporary societies. In the seasonally inundated savannas of the Llanos de Mojos, pre-Columbian Indians piled earth into 'large raised field platforms' elevated high enough above the floodplain to allow crops to grow. Archaeological evidence indicates that raised field agriculture supported much larger populations than those found in the Beni today. The examination of satellite imagery has revealed more than 40,000 individual fields spread across an area of approximately 7,500 square kilometers. This study created a digitized map of large raised fields to search for spatial patterns in their distribution. A GIS analysis was conducted in which fields were distributed into organizational groups based on characteristics such as proximity and orientation to cardinal direction. These groups represent potential 'social units' involved in the organization of labor required to construct raised fields. This study demonstrated the consistent presence of these units throughout the entirety of the agricultural system. Patterns in the distribution of these groups allowed the study area to be divided into two distinct regions representing a larger scale of organization within a seemingly uniform system. A transitional zone between these two regions was identified on the river Omi, providing a clear area of interest to target in future archaeological excavations. Further archaeological investigations of raised field agriculture have the potential of demonstrating the overall productivity of the system as well as how it was incorporated into the social systems of those who managed it.
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Date Issued: 2017
Identifier: CFH2000192, ucf:45990
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFH2000192

Title: Animals of the cloud forest: isotopic variation of archaeological faunal remains from Kuelap, Peru.
Creator: Michell, Samantha, Toyne, J. Marla, Duncan, Neil, Dupras, Tosha, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Stable isotopic analyses of faunal remains are used as a proxy for reconstructing the ancient Chachapoya dietary environment of the northeastern highlands in Peru. Archaeologists have excavated animal remains from refuse piles at the monumental center of Kuelap (AD 900-1535). This archaeological site is located at 3000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), where C3 plants dominate the region. The study presented here is one of the few in the Central Andes that uses faunal remains to develop...
Show moreStable isotopic analyses of faunal remains are used as a proxy for reconstructing the ancient Chachapoya dietary environment of the northeastern highlands in Peru. Archaeologists have excavated animal remains from refuse piles at the monumental center of Kuelap (AD 900-1535). This archaeological site is located at 3000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), where C3 plants dominate the region. The study presented here is one of the few in the Central Andes that uses faunal remains to develop local isotopic baselines, reconstruct resource exploitation, and provide insight into dietary variation. Bone collagen stable carbon (?13C) and nitrogen (?15N) isotopes are used to investigate animal diets of nine local fauna (Camelidae, Cervidae, Caviidae, Chinchillidae, Cuniculidae, Leporidae, Felidae, Canidae, and Aves). Different taxonomic families were evaluated to explore the range of isotopic variation within and between these animals. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic values of both the wild and domesticated Kuelap faunal samples suggest a diet of both C3 and C4 plant foods. Significant dietary differences were identified between domesticated and wild animals (specifically camelid and cervid), suggesting ecological differences or strategic provisioning from possible domestic C4 crops (maize) by humans. The domesticated camelids displayed a large isotopic variation similar to other highland archaeological studies in Peru, with an average ?13C value of (-)14.13 ‰ and a standard deviation of 2.96. The cervids displayed lower variation than the camelids and had an average carbon value of (-)19.13 ‰ with a standard deviation of 2.38. These are the first faunal isotopic data for the eastern montane region of Chachapoyas and serve as an essential baseline in the evaluation of human subsistence strategies and animal management strategies in the northern Peruvian highlands.
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Date Issued: 2018
Identifier: CFE0007226, ucf:52237
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0007226

Title: The Foods and Crops of the Muisca: A Dietary Reconstruction of the Intermediate Chiefdoms of Bogota (Bacata) and Tunja (Hunza), Colombia.
Creator: Garcia, Jorge, Chase, Arlen, Chase, Diane, Walker, John, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: The Muisca people of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia had an exceptionally complex diet, which is the result of specific subsistence strategies, environmental advantages, and social restrictions. The distinct varieties of microclimates, caused by the sharp elevations in this part of the Andes, allows for a great biodiversity of plants and animals that was accessible to the native population. The crops of domesticated and adopted plants of the Muisca include a wide variety of tubers, cereals...
Show moreThe Muisca people of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia had an exceptionally complex diet, which is the result of specific subsistence strategies, environmental advantages, and social restrictions. The distinct varieties of microclimates, caused by the sharp elevations in this part of the Andes, allows for a great biodiversity of plants and animals that was accessible to the native population. The crops of domesticated and adopted plants of the Muisca include a wide variety of tubers, cereals, fruits, and leaves that are described in detail in this thesis. The Muisca used an agricultural method known as microverticality where the different thermic floors are utilized to grow an impressive variety of species at various elevations and climates. This group also domesticated the guinea pig, controlled deer populations and possibly practiced pisiculture, patterns that are also described in this text. Some of the foods of the Muisca were restricted to specific social groups, such as the consumption of deer and maize by the chiefly classes and the consumption of roots and tubers by the lower class, hence the complexity of their dietary practices. The utensils utilized in the preparation and processing of foods, including ceramics and stone tools were once of extreme importance in the evolution of the Muisca diet and form an important part of this research as well as the culinary methods that are described in the Spanish chronicles and by contemporary experts. The majority of food products utilized by the Muisca in antiquity are still part of the diet of contemporary Colombians and the current uses of these foods can allow us to understand how these products were used by this pre-Columbian society. On the other hand, knowledge of the practices used by the Muisca can facilitate the preservation of these foods in the modern diet and avoid the introduction and replacement of these foods by non-native products, which can be less nutritious.
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Date Issued: 2012
Identifier: CFE0004199, ucf:48994
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004199

Title: FAIRY FORTS AND THE BANSHEE IN MODERN COASTAL SLIGO, IRELAND: AN ETHNOGRAPHY OF LOCAL BELIEFS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF THESE TRADITIONS.
Creator: Tillesen, Brian, Zorn, Elayne, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: This thesis examines issues of cultural identity and modernity, and the anthropology of spirituality and sacred sites by conducting ethnographic research on fairy beliefs in contemporary Ireland. Irish folk belief has traditionally identified a spirit world intertwined with our own which is inhabited by spirits, often collectively referred to as fairies. Belief in these spirits was once widespread. My research sought to determine the prevalence of these traditional beliefs among modern Irish...
Show moreThis thesis examines issues of cultural identity and modernity, and the anthropology of spirituality and sacred sites by conducting ethnographic research on fairy beliefs in contemporary Ireland. Irish folk belief has traditionally identified a spirit world intertwined with our own which is inhabited by spirits, often collectively referred to as fairies. Belief in these spirits was once widespread. My research sought to determine the prevalence of these traditional beliefs among modern Irish people within my research area, as well as differences in belief across variables including age, gender, and religious preference. I conducted eight weeks of ethnographic fieldwork during June-August 2008 in and around Sligo Town in County Sligo, Ireland. I selected County Sligo as a research site because it is a sparsely populated, largely rural area, identified in an earlier major study of Irish folklore as a region where belief in the Irish spirit world persisted more strongly than in other parts of the country. My primary research methodology was to conduct structured and unstructured interviews, complemented by visual site surveys. In the preparation of this thesis I utilized data from 52 Sligo residents plus ten other visitors to the area from surrounding Irish counties. While my research suggests that few Sligo residents from the project area continue to believe in the literal existence of fairies, it also shows a much more common belief in a Ã‚Â"powerÃ‚Â" associated with sites identified as Ã‚Â"fairy forts,Ã‚Â" which are natural features of the landscape or the remains of ancient burials or dwellings apocryphally endowed by folk tradition with supernatural or mysterious energies. These beliefs led to a taboo against intruding on, altering, or destroying these Ã‚Â"fortsÃ‚Â" that is still very much alive today. Additionally I was able to discuss at length the subject of the Irish death-herald spirit called the banshee (bean sidhe)Ã‚Â¬ with several study participants. Although it can be classified under the umbrella label of Ã‚Â"fairyÃ‚Â", my research indicates that the banshee is seen as a stand-apart element of Irish tradition by research area residents, and is believed in by those who do not otherwise profess a belief in Ã‚Â"fairiesÃ‚Â" in general.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: CFE0003185, ucf:48610
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0003185

Title: Changes in Neolithic Subsistence Patterns on Flores, Indonesia Inferred by Stable Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen Isotope Analyses of Sus from Liang Bua.
Creator: Munizzi, Jordon, Dupras, Tosha, Williams, Lana, Schultz, John, Tocheri, Matthew, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description: Despite an abundance of archaeological material recovered from sites in Island Southeast Asia, the timing and route by which cultigens first arrived in Wallacea remains unclear. Many of the staple crops now grown on these islands were domesticated in mainland Asia, and were deliberately introduced by humans at an unknown point during the Holocene, through several possible routes. In this study, the ?13C, ?15N and ?18O values of subfossil bones and teeth attributed to Sus celebensis and Sus...
Show moreDespite an abundance of archaeological material recovered from sites in Island Southeast Asia, the timing and route by which cultigens first arrived in Wallacea remains unclear. Many of the staple crops now grown on these islands were domesticated in mainland Asia, and were deliberately introduced by humans at an unknown point during the Holocene, through several possible routes. In this study, the ?13C, ?15N and ?18O values of subfossil bones and teeth attributed to Sus celebensis and Sus scrofa are analyzed. These materials, which span the last 5160 years at Liang Bua, Flores, Indonesia are used to determine if and when there was a shift towards agricultural intensification, and whether this intensification included the integration of domesticated C4 crops. The ?13C and ?15N values of the bone and dentin collagen samples indicate an abrupt shift towards enrichment in 13C and depletion in 15N at some time between 5160 and 2750 yBP. This hints at changes in human subsistence patterns that may have included the clearing of forests, and the integration of non-endemic C4 cultigens such as foxtail millet (Setaria italica) onto the island. No statistically significant variation in the ?18O values of the enamel carbonate samples over time is observed, suggesting that once they appeared on Flores, semi-domesticated pigs became an important part of the island ecosystem, and were bred and raised on Flores instead of being continuously imported from elsewhere.
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Date Issued: 2013
Identifier: CFE0004728, ucf:49820
Format: Document (PDF)
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004728

Title: Human remains and associated fossils from the pleistocene of Florida.
Creator: Sellards, Elias Howard, PALMM (Project)
Abstract / Description: Gives the results of excavations (1913-1916) at Vero Beach, Florida which found human skeletal remains and plant and animal fossils.
Date Issued: 1916
Identifier: AAA3367QF00012/20/200108/04/200516108BfamI D0QF, FIPS12061, FCLA url 20020621xOCLC, 50189643, FHP C CF 2001-12-20, CF00001581, 2565033, ucf:10582
Format: E-book
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dl/CF00001581.jpg

Title: Archaeological investigations of Green Mound, Florida.
Creator: Bullen, Ripley P., Sleight, Frederick W., PALMM (Project)
Abstract / Description: Describes the excavations conducted March 3-13, 1958 at the Green Mound site, located about 8 miles southsoutheast of Daytona Beach, Florida.
Date Issued: 1960
Identifier: AAA7972QF00010/16/200311/23/200416115BfamIa D0QF, BN2434 - 52066, 1161391, FHP C CF 2003-10-16, FIPS12127, FCLA url 20040504xOCLC, 55694231, CF00001636, 2572719, ucf:15146
Format: E-book
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/tc/fhp/CF00001636.jpg

Title: Three archaic sites in the Ocala National Forest, Florida.
Creator: Bullen, Ripley P., Bryant, William J., PALMM (Project)
Abstract / Description: Describes excavations conducted from 1962 to 1964 of three shell middens in the Ocala National Forest, Florida. Middens no. 1 and no. 2 are located within the Bowers Bluff Archaeological Area; midden no. 3 is more commonly known as the Kimball Island Midden. Radiocarbon analyses date human inhabitation at Midden no. 2 to about 3000 B.C. with abandonment approximately 1,000 years later. Midden no. 1 is dated at about 1690. B.C.
Date Issued: 1965
Identifier: AAA7978QF00010/16/200311/23/200416247BfamIa D0QF, ONICF - 258, FHP C CF 2003-10-16, FIPS12069, FCLA url 20040509xOCLC, 55694302, CF00001637, 2572842, ucf:15201
Format: E-book
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/tc/fhp/CF00001637.jpg

Title: Archaeological investigations of the Castle Windy Midden, Florida.
Creator: Bullen, Ripley P., Sleight, Frederick W., PALMM (Project)
Abstract / Description: Describes the artifacts recovered during excavations conducted in November 1956 and May 1957 at the Castle Windy Site, located about 12 miles southeast of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Carbon dating tests indicate that the specimens come from about A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1350 (p.9).
Date Issued: 1959
Date Created: 1968
Identifier: AAA7976QF00010/16/200311/23/200416119BfamIa D0QF, ONICF - 271, FHP C CF 2003-10-16, FIPS12127, FCLA url 20040504xOCLC, 55694117, CF00001635, 2572614, ucf:15100
Format: E-book
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/tc/fhp/CF00001635.jpg

Title: Archaeological investigations at the Ross Hammock site, Florida.
Creator: Bullen, Ripley P., Bryant, William J., Bullen, Adelaide K., PALMM (Project)
Abstract / Description: Describes the excavations of the Ross Hammock Site, located a little southeast of Oak Hill, Florida. The excavations were made in 1963 to evaluate the site's archaeological potential. The authors believed that the site was probably occupied about 2000 years ago. Includes a brief account of an investigation of a nearby 19th century salt evaporation works site.
Date Issued: 1967
Identifier: AAA7970QF00010/16/200311/23/200416106BfamIa D0QF, ONICF - 257, FHP C CF 2003-10-16, FIPS12127, FCLA url 20040509xOCLC, 55694374, CF00001638, 2572934, ucf:15242
Format: E-book
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/tc/fhp/CF00001638.jpg

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