Digital Commons Network^™

Numerical Variations In The Thoracic And Lumbar Vertebrae Within The John A. Williams Skeletal Collection, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, Nc (Usa), Leanna Annette Sanford

Anthropology Department: Theses

This research is on how human variation can lead to the identification of remains based on skeletal variation. The data were collected by performing a morphoscopic trait study of the John A. Williams (J.A.W.) Documented Human Skeletal Collection at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC (USA). Morphoscopic traits are nonmetric traits, visually identified using the knowledge of osteology. The study was performed to study variation of the vertebral column, specifically focusing on morphoscopic traits of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. The focus of this research is centralized on the presence of numerical variations in the vertebral column such as eleven …

How Gender Affirming Care Affects The Current Sex Estimation Standards In Forensic Anthropology: A Preliminary Study, Dakota Taylor

Anthropology Department: Theses

Current sex estimation standards in forensic anthropology are based on individuals whose gender matches their biological/osteological sex, also known as Cisgendered individuals. Recently, transgender individuals have started to become more common in the forensic context due to the increase in hate crimes and violence. This research builds upon past research done on how facial feminization surgery can affect both visual and metric methods, where it was found that forensic anthropologists should rely on the visual methods if they suspect someone to be transgender due to it being more accurate and being able to clearly state the scars left on the …

The Kruger Collection Reimagined: A Case Study In 3d Scanning And Interactive Exhibit Design, Annissa Davis

Anthropology Department: Theses

This thesis examines the use of 3D modeling in museum exhibition to create exploratory exhibits that facilitate unique relationships between the visitors and the collection beyond what is provided by the collection’s in person counterparts. Typical use of 3D modeling in museums is currently often representative rather than exploratory. By employing a Digital Humanities lens to approach the development of a digital exhibition utilizing 3D technology and interactive elements created in a video game engine (Unity), this thesis project evaluates these potential new relationships. Using the Eloise Kruger Collection of Miniatures as a case study, the following text details the …

A Manual On The Planing And Integration Of Archaeological Methods In To Outdoor Forensic Search Investigations, Jonathan Robert Garcia

Anthropology Department: Theses

As archaeology and its applications into forensic contexts develop into the growing discipline of forensic archaeology, an increasing amount of literature has resulted stemming from research on the integration of common archaeological methods. However, much of this literature is intended for professional archaeologists or forensic anthropologists who are well experienced in their respective disciplines. Emerging literature generally does not consider those who leads efforts at forensic scenes in the outdoors such as law enforcement officers who often lack a background in archaeology or forensic anthropology. This thesis seeks to resolve this dilemma by creating a new and accessible manual. The …

The Osteobiography Of Human Remains From The Seaview And Indian Town Trail Archaeological Sites, Maggie M. Klemm

Anthropology Department: Theses

Extensive site surveys and excavations on the Island of Barbuda led by Sophia Perdikaris have identified over 62 sites spanning from the Archaic time period to Historic times. Over the last 18 years, these multidisciplinary teams have focused on mapping all sites and performing rescue excavations on sites threatened by sea level rise, erosion or development. Two such sites are the Saladoid site of Seaview (BA016) and the Troumassoid site of Indian Town Trail (BA01). The dunes surrounding the site of Seaview receive the brunt of storms and hurricanes. In 1998 hurricane Georges exposed skeletal material now part of the …

A Grim End For Europe's First Civilization: The Fall Of Minoan Crete, Ashley Arp

Honors Theses

Early popular theories about the collapse of the Minoan civilization center around natural disasters, but geoarchaeological research from the past few decades has disproved these earlier theories. It is evident that the Minoan civilization continued to thrive for around a century after the volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami that had previously been credited as the cause for the collapse. Evidence of manmade destruction has been uncovered across the island of Crete c. 1450 BCE and this period was quickly followed by a drastic cultural shift that included more Mycenaean elements than had been found on the island previously. These destructions, …

Biographical Memoirs: Napoleon A. Chagnon, Raymond B. Hames

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

Napoleon A. Chagnon (August 27, 1938–September 21, 2019), elected to the National Academy of Science in 2012. A Biographical Memoir by Raymond B. Hames, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Chagnon was a Renaissance anthropologist who made numerous fundamental contributions to anthropology. His films and ethnography have been viewed by millions around the world. He combined a humanistic eye in research with an unwavering scientific approach to human culture and behavior. He set multiple standards for long-term field research in terms of methodological rigor and refinement. He made some of the first tests of inclusive fitness theory in human behavior. And he was …

Review Of Island Shores, Distant Pasts, Maggie M. Klemm

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of Island Shores, Distant Pasts by Scott Fitzpatrick and Ann Ross. 2010. University of Florida Press, Florida. ix + 201 pp. $26.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-8130-5468-1. Reviewed by Maggie M. Klemm, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Island Shores, Distant Pasts is an important read for archaeologists and anthropologists currently or potentially interested in studying Caribbean archaeology. This text contains current and relevant interdisciplinary research that will expand readers’ knowledge about human settlement and the timing of migration events in the Caribbean. A positive aspect of this book is that the authors discuss objective results from their research and avoid speculative conclusions. Additionally, …

Review Of Vanished: The Sixty-Year Search For The Missing Men Of World War Ii, Mack Cristino

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of Vanished: The Sixty-Year Search for the Missing Men of World War II by Wil S. Hylton. 2013. Riverhead Books, New York. xiii + pp. 239. $27.95 (cloth), ISBN 978-1-59448-727-9. Reviewed by Mack Cristino, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Scannon’s mission approach was one of social and expert collaboration. Scannon valued the stories, memories, and accounts of the indigenous Palauan peoples and the families of the missing crew. He also sat down to interview and visit fellow Long Ranger veterans of the 307th Bombardment group. Scannon goes on to share that these accounts were invaluable to the search for the …

Review Of Soil Analysis In Forensic Taphonomy Chemical And Biological Effects Of Buried Human Remains, Erik Schulz

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of Soil Analysis in Forensic Taphonomy Chemical and Biological Effects of Buried Human Remains, edited by Mark Tibbett and David O. Carter. 2008. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida. vii + 340 pp. US $47.35 (alk. paper), ISBN 978-1-4200-6991-4. Reviewed by Erik Schulz School of Global Integrative Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The content in this book is easy to read and understand as the authors and editors took time to simplify scientific terms and made sure to put the information in both scientific terms as well as simple enough for the public to understand. This …

Forensic Archaeology Protocols For Wildfires And Fire Related Scenes, Erik Schulz

Nebraska Anthropologist

Forensic Archaeology Protocols for Wildfires and Fire-Related Scenes

Forensic archaeology is a relatively new area of study and focuses on the medical legal aspects of archaeology. This paper will focus on how forensic archaeology should be used for wildfire and other fire-related fatalities or investigations, what happens to bone when exposed to heat, what protocols should be in place and how an excavation should look, and finally the challenges of fire-related investigations. This report will focus on the larger scale of the investigation and will be using several sources from different wildfire and fire fatality reports.

Assessing The Walkability Of King William Island By The Crew Members Of The Franklin Expedition Of 1845: A Gis Suitability Analysis, Robert Hawkins

Nebraska Anthropologist

With the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror found in 2014 and 2016, the future of work on the 1845 Franklin Expedition mystery now comes down to searching King William Island, Canada for the fates of the many missing crew members. There appears to be, however, little use of GIS in public literature to identify the route the crew took south across the island. While finding this would be near impossible, especially with over 175 years of change to the environment, GIS has the potential to offer some new insight into what happened, and at the very least, provide a visualization …

Impediments To Peace: In Response To ‘The Evolution Of Peace’ By Luke Glowacki (December 16, 2022), Raymond B. Hames

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

A response to ‘The evolution of peace’ by Luke Glowacki (December 16, 2022)

While effective institutional practices are critical for the evolution of peace certain factors deter their effectiveness. In-group and out-group dynamics may make peace difficult between culturally distinct groups. Critical ecological conditions often lead to intractable conflict over resources. And within group conflicts of interest most prominently between generations may inhibit effective peace making

Review Of Still Life With Bones: Genocide, Forensics, And What Remains, Mack Cristino

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of Still Life with Bones: Genocide, Forensics, and What Remains by Alexa Hagerty. 2023. Crown Publishing Group, New York. xvi + pp. 228. $28.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-593-44313-2. Review by: Mack Cristino, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Alexa Hagerty pours her entire heart into this book in both recounting her own personal experiences and passions in contributing to the repatriation of these victims and in bringing about awareness of such governmental corruption. Millions of innocent people are dead at the hands of greedy figureheads, and it is in the marriage of forensics and empathy that we will solve these crimes and …

Feminist Geography: Impact And Inclusion In Geographical Research, Michael Atuahene Djan

Nebraska Anthropologist

Feminist theories have significantly influenced the field of geography, challenging traditional notions of objectivity and shedding light on the intricate relationships between place, gender, and society. The emergence of feminist geography has been crucial in advocating for the inclusion of women's perspectives, countering historical marginalization in academic debates. This systematic review aims to summarize and assess the impact of feminist theory on geography, exploring topics such as gendered spaces, feminist methodologies, and the integration of women's voices in research. Utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Checklist, the study employed a thematic analysis of secondary sources. …

Revew Of Forensic Anthropology: A Comprehensive Introduction, John O. Obafunwa, William R. Belcher

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of Forensic Anthropology: A Comprehensive Introduction edited by Natalie R. Langley and Maria Teresa A. Tersigni-Tarrant. 2017, 2nd Edition. CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida, USA. ISBN: 13: 978-1-4987-3612-1 (Hardback). Reviewed by John O. Obafunwa and William R. Belcher, School of Global Integrative Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Overall, this text fits very well into the body of literature in forensic anthropology and has largely addressed the purpose for undergraduate and graduate courses. It is not overly technical, and it is good for undergraduate teaching and practical work. The reviewers would also recommend it to graduate …

Review Of The Marginalized In Death: A Forensic Anthropology Of Intersectional Identity In The Modern Era, Dakota L. Taylor

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of The Marginalized in Death: A Forensic Anthropology of Intersectional Identity in the Modern Era by J. F. Byrnes and I. Sandoval-Cervantes. 2022. Lexington Books. Reviewed by Dakota Taylor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

This book is a compilation of articles that explore the representation of marginalized populations in the forensic anthropological record. The primary focus of this book is on the need for more research to be conducted in this field regarding marginalized populations. Some of the main takeaways from this book is the urgent need to train or educate forensic anthropologists about all these issues. Additionally, this book …

Inter- And Intra-Observer Error In Forensic Anthropology: Based Upon Langley Et Al. 2016 Data Collection Procedures For Forensic Skeletal Material 2.0 For The Cranium And Femur, Maggie M. Klemm, Dakota L. Taylor

Nebraska Anthropologist

Following the Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993) ruling three decades ago, guidelines were established for determining the reliability and validity of expert testimony in court. These guidelines include considerations of whether the theory and methodologies employed have been tested, the establishment of potential or known error rates, and the existence and maintenance of the standards (Christensen, 2004). Testifying in court as an expert witness has become a critical role as a forensic anthropologist. As such, the methodologies, techniques, and standards utilized by forensic anthropologists must be carefully considered and adhere to the Daubert guidelines within the court system. One …

Review Of Atlas Of Human Cranial Macromorphoscopic Traits, Patrick Barchett

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of Atlas of Human Cranial Macromorphoscopic Traits by Joseph T. Hefner and Kandus C. Linde. 2018. Academic Press, Cambridge. XXXI + 324 pp. $150 hardcover or $0 PDF on ResearchGate. 978-0-12-814385-8. Reviewed by Patrick Barchett, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

In the authors' concluding remarks, they address that, while they have many samples and photographs, they could not ever hope to provide the full context of human variation. With an estimated 107 billion people who are alive and have ever lived, this understanding is more important than ever. The authors also include that there is very little known about the connections …

Review Of Queer Kinship: Race, Sex, Belonging, Form, First Edition, Patrick Barchett

Nebraska Anthropologist

Review of Queer Kinship: Race, Sex, Belonging, Form, 1st edition, edited by Tyler Bradway and Elizabeth Freeman. 2022. Duke University Press, Durham, North Carolina, USA. vii + 352 pp. Reviewed by Patrick Barchett, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Due widely to the inaccessible nature of “nonnormative” sexualities and genders in many ethnographic studies, queer kinship tends to be left out of many kinship classes and discussions. However, Queer Kinship: Race, Sex, Belonging, Form (edited by Tyler Bradway and Elizabeth Freeman) discusses not only queer kinship in the sense of LGBTQ+ kinship, but also other forms of nonnormative kinship structures, such …

Unraveling The Tapestry Of Indigenous Maize In North America: A Case Study Of Pawnee Ancestral Maize, Kahheetah Barnoskie

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Studies on Indigenous ancestral landrace maize in North America has significant historical and scientific importance. Indigenous peoples, such as the Pawnee people, have been cultivating maize for thousands of years, resulting in diverse varieties adapted to their local environments. This study aims to deepen the knowledge of Indigenous maize by examining specific varieties from the Pawnee, including a comparative analysis of the genetic makeup through DNA sequencing. This study used Genotyping by Target Sequencing (GBTS) method to examine the genetic variation and characteristics among the multiple varieties the Pawnee people once grew historically, providing valuable information about the evolutionary history …

A Brief Comparison Of Two Early Neighborhoods: Consumerism And Social Class In 20th Century Lincoln, Nebraska, Mariska Molnar

Anthropology Department: Theses

In the Fall of 2018, Matthew Hansen monitored the destruction of a parking lot two blocks north of the Capitol Building in Lincoln, Nebraska for the subsequent building of a geothermal system. During this period, and excavation was conducted with the aid of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Campus Archaeology Project, and 12 features were identified. Five features produced artifacts, with Feature 11, a cistern, being the most fruitful. The collection was named the Capitol Wellfield, and a portion of the artifacts, which includes diagnostic glass and ceramic pieces, are housed on campus for studying.

Most research and publication have been …

Programa De La Conferencia Segundo Congreso Internacional De Iconografía Precolombina

Segundo congreso internacional de iconografía precolombina. Barcelona, 2023. Actas.

Barcelona, 2023.

Victòria Solanilla, organizador

17 al 20 de octubre de 2023.

En el Museu de Cultures del Món de Barcelona. Calle Montcada, nº12-14, 08003, Barcelona.

Y en el Institut d’Estudis Catalans. Calle del Carme, nº 47, 08001, Barcelona.

Organizado por el GRUP d'ESTUDIS PRECOLOMBINS· con el apoyo del MUSEU ETNOLÒGIC I DE CULTURES DEL MÓN· INSTITUT D'ESTUDIS CATALANS· SOCIETAT CATALANA D'ESTUDIS HISTÒRICS

A Manual For The Recovery Of Cbrne (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, And Explosive) Contaminated Human Remains, Patrick Barchett

Anthropology Department: Theses

Despite many international agreements and treaties prohibiting the use of CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive) weaponry, the proliferation of contaminated human remains displays the historic and continued use of inhumane war efforts. Due to the complications of recovery, contaminated human remains are often left unrecovered and unidentified. This thesis works to create a framework for the recovery of contaminated human remains for organizations with a focus on creating safe and sustainable working environments for those conducting the recovery. Much of this thesis assumes the remains are being recovered from interred mass graves. This thesis provides an introduction to …

Animal Welfare Deserts: Human And Nonhuman Animal Inequities, Laura Reese, Xiaomeng Li

School of Global Integrative Studies: Faculty Publications

Residents of distressed areas of inner cities have less access to many of life’s necessities and amenities than their more well-off counterparts. Geographic proximity has been identified as a primary barrier to accessing care for pets potentially creating animal welfare deserts. This project addresses three questions: Are there visible animal welfare deserts in distressed urban centers?; What human inequities are most strongly related to animal welfare deserts?; and What might be done to address these inequities? Using business location and census data in the city of Detroit, this research identifies distinct animal welfare deserts finding that more prosperous areas have …

Archivo Y Memoria: Una Mirada A Tres Historias De Mujeres Esclavizadas En El Virreinato De La Nueva Granada De Finales Del Siglo Xviii, Luisa Carolina Julio Gomez

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Colonial documents preserve information that allows us to know the local Andean history of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. These manuscripts reveal forms of violence that shaped the subjectivities of the time and the resistance of oppressed women. This dissertation examines the effects of slavery and the response of three enslaved women to that colonial violence. This analysis seeks to better understand and make visible how the intersection between racism and patriarchy impacted the lives of three racialized women in the colonial context.

This dissertation focuses on the experiences, struggles, and resistance of three women present in the manuscripts consigned …

Nebraska’S Medico-Legal System: A Death Investigation Analysis, Ashley Novak

Honors Theses

A large part of the founding of the United States of America focused on the idea of state control over their internal affairs. For this reason, the United States is home to a largely decentralized medico-legal system. The State of Nebraska hosts a coroner-based death investigation system as is written into their legislation regarding the establishment of their medico-legal system. By studying legislation, federal and state reports, as well as publications by academics within the field, merits and weaknesses of the Nebraskan coroner system can be uncovered. Additional considerations and understandings that are needed to be understood include: understanding what …

The Woodcliff Experiment: Zooarchaeological Applications Using A Legacy And Cultural Resource Management (Crm) Faunal Collection, Matthew Zmijewski

Anthropology Department: Theses

Legacy archaeological collections are often underutilized despite their valuable research utility. Archeologists might pass over these collections for research due to the age of recovery, along with the manner in which they were sampled and excavated. This thesis argues that significant archaeological research questions can be answered using these collections. To demonstrate their research potential, the author analyzes past subsistence behaviors and seasonality of occupations using the faunal remains from the Woodcliff site (25SD31). Woodcliff is a A.D. 1650-1750 Protohistoric Pawnee village located in eastern Nebraska. The faunal collection derived from excavations at the site constitute both a legacy and …

The Impacts Of Site Formation Processes On Excavation Methodology: The Study Of A World War Ii B-24 Crash Site In Munster, Germany, Alicia J. Lawson

Anthropology Department: Theses

Academic partnerships between universities and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) are a recent development to provide top research universities resources to assist in recovering and identifying MIA service members since World War II. A University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)/DPAA Partner excavation revisited a WWII B-24H crash site in Münster, Germany in the summer of 2022. B-24H [redacted] crashed into three agricultural fields on 23 March 1945. Utilizing quantitative and qualitative data collected on the incident-related and archaeological osseous remains and artifacts recovered from the fields and the fields’ land use history, this thesis focuses on analyzing the site formation processes …

Climate Change, Site Formation, And Indigenous Use Of Coastlines In Barbuda, Isabel C. Rivera-Collazo, Sophia Perdikaris

School of Global Integrative Studies: Faculty Publications

This article explores the landscape dynamics at the island of Barbuda in the context of changing climate to understand (1) the environmental setting of indigenous settlements; (2) the impacts of current coastal processes; and (3) the potential threats moving forward toward increasing pressure of climate change. Focusing on the site of Seaview, on the east coast of Barbuda, we use geoarchaeological methods to reconstruct the ancient geomorphological setting, investigate changes post-abandonment, and identify the hazards faced under future sea-level projections. Our study shows that (1) sea level stabilization after the Mid-Holocene allowed the formation of coral reefs, seagrass beds and …