Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

China’S Three Gorges Dam: Development, Displacement, And Degradation, Trent M. Carney

Nebraska Anthropologist

China’s state-led push towards modernization and enhanced economic growth has been marked by environmentally unsustainable practices, the results of which are still being combated today (Sapiro 2001). The construction of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in Hubei province, China, represents the largest civil engineering project of the modern era. The dam is capable of generating one-sixth of China’s total electrical capacity; however, China’s attempts to go green come at a substantial cost. (Gleick 2009; Morgan & Waretini 2013; Paerl et al. 2011; Xu et al. 2013). Some of these consequences include increased geologic activity: the forced resettlement …

Nebraska Anthropologist, Volume 29: 2021, University Of Nebraska-Lincoln’S Anthrogroup

Nebraska Anthropologist

Table of Contents

Sex vs Gender in a Forensic Anthropological Analysis • Erik Schulz…5

China’s Three Gorges Dam: Development, Displacement, and Degredation • Trent Carney…20

Who Counts as a Citizen? Toward an Interdisciplinary Understanding of Statelessness • Cole Kovarik…28

Explanations for Brazil’s Inequality Reduction from 1989 to 2015 • José Cabrera-Schneider…44

Tourism’s Impacts on Local Populations • Morgan Glup ... 51

The Investigator: Demons of the Balkan War- A Book Review • Brianna Petersen…67

What Remains: Bringing America’s Missing Home from the Vietnam War- A Book Review • Erik Schulz…70

Sex Vs Gender In A Forensic Anthropological Analysis, Erik M. Schulz

Nebraska Anthropologist

This paper will be discussing the topic of gender identification in a forensic anthropology outcome. The purpose will be to see if a forensic anthropologist should determine the gender of an individual or just biological sex when talking about identifying a body. To support this argument, the following topics will be evaluated: looking at the current methods used for identifying sex of an individual, looking at reconstruction and modification practices, looking at documentation aspects in a forensic report, biological profile make up, and cultural significance. The conclusion will state that anthropologists should make a case for sex, but that gender …

Review Of The Investigator: Demons Of The Balkan War (English Translation), By Vladimír Dzuro, Brianna Petersen

Nebraska Anthropologist

The Balkan War is regarded as a very dark period in world history, with death, torture, destruction, and displacement all being methods used to perpetuate violence against multiple groups of people in the area. The Investigator: Demons of the Balkan War by Vladimír Dzuro (hereafter referred to as The Investigator) is a chilling personal account of criminal investigations of the perpetrators of the war that broke out in the former Yugoslavia. Dzuro, initially an employee of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) and later the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), addresses the many horrors of this war, …

Who Counts As A Citizen? Toward An Interdisciplinary Understanding Of Statelessness, Cole S. Kovarik

Nebraska Anthropologist

This paper highlights several limitations of the dominant legal framework for addressing statelessness and incorporates sociological understandings of citizenship and nationality into a revised approach to the issue. The analysis examines various national group dynamics surrounding the issue of statelessness for the Rohingya of Myanmar and concludes that legal citizenship status is neither the sole cause of nor the sole solution for the crisis that has emerged. It concludes with an assessment of the social dynamics that lead to statelessness and recommendations for future research.

Tourism’S Impacts On Local Populations, Morgan Glup

Nebraska Anthropologist

This writing serves to discuss the various impacts of tourism on local populations. Despite the growth of the tourism industry, only a handful of anthropological studies about the impact of tourism on local populations exist. Therefore, this writing is focused on the study of tourism by anthropologists as there is much about tourism that lends itself well to being studied from an anthropological perspective. Issues relevant to anthropology such as political economy, social change, and cultural identity are directly affected by tourism. A brief overview of the work done by anthropologists on tourism and local populations is discussed. Many anthropological …

Explanations For Brazil’S Inequality Reduction From 1989 To 2015, José N. Cabrera-Schneider

Nebraska Anthropologist

Latin America has been known for its persistent inequality, and the explanations of its origin vary greatly. However, in recent years (the 1990s to early 2010s) inequality in Latin America decreased significantly. In this paper, I focus on the inequality trends in Brazil to look for particular drivers that reduce inequality. Among the essential drivers are education; a reduction in the income gaps between gender, race, geography, and formality; and types of income, such as income from labor or income from conditional cash transfers. However, the effect of the drivers is not always the same, especially for education.

Review Of What Remains: Bringing America’S Missing Home From The Vietnam War By Sarah E. Wagner, Erik Schulz

Nebraska Anthropologist

A book with a story, history and emotion that encompasses the story of multiple United States military personnel and their families. I first heard of this book after attending a lecture by Dr. Sarah Wagner (Georgetown University) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in January of 2020. In her lecture, she spoke about the publication by telling the story of Lance Corporal Merlin Raye Allen who was Killed-in-Action and his body was not recovered for over four decades. While this book focuses on Lance Corporal Allen, he is just one of many discussed within these pages. This story is more than …

Nebraska Anthropologist, Volume 28: 2013 -- Contents And Frontmatter, Anthrogroup, Holly Staggs, John K. Fitzpatrick Iii, Nora C. Greiman, M. G. Lapera

Nebraska Anthropologist

There are not many student-run academic journals, and even fewer student-run anthropological journals. We are happy to provide a forum in which anthropologists and other similarly-interested students can present their interests and intellectual work. Anthropology is the study of humanity in all walks of life, and Nebraska Anthropologist is a small testament to what can be accomplished when a community works together.

This 28th anniversary volume would not have been possible without the guidance and support of the editors that have gone before us, notably Benjamin Grant Purzycki and all those whose work has instilled Nebraska Anthropologist with its quality …

Nebraska Anthropologist, Volume 27 : 2012 -- Contents And Frontmatter, Anthrogroup, Christine A. Nyez, Holly Staggs, Kristine Sudbeck, Allison Young

Nebraska Anthropologist

There are not many student-run academic journals, and even fewer student-run anthropological journals. We are happy to provide a forum in which anthropologists and other similarly-interested students can present their interests and intellectual work. Anthropology is the study of humanity in all walks of life, and Nebraska Anthropologist is a small testament to what can be accomplished when a community works together.

This 27th anniversary volume would not have been possible without the guidance and support of the editors that have gone before us, notably Benjamin Grant Purzycki aDd all those whose work has instilled Nebraska Anthropologist with its quality …

Mitochondrial And Ychromosomal Dna In The Analysis Of Kinship: Methods, Current Practices, And Areas Of Further Inquiry, Anne M. Cafer

Nebraska Anthropologist

This paper examines the use of both mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosomal DNA in the study of kinship groups, particularly those from ancient burial sites. The characteristics of both types of DNA that make them suitable for such endeavors as well as methods of application to kinship studies will be outlined. Additionally, specific examples from modern, ancient, and other non-human primate research will be discussed along with the implications of these studies. Finally, ethical concerns and areas of further study will be addressed. This paper is designed to assess the utility of a specific scientific method of analysis that can augment …

Time Perspectivism As Applied To Three Mennonite Cemeteries In York County, Nebraska, Tayrah Epp

Nebraska Anthropologist

Time perspectivism is a view in which time scales bring into focus different processes, which produces a need to use different concepts and explanatory variables (Bailey 1987, 2007). The three Mennonite cemeteries, Epp, Faith Evangelical and Bethesda, were analyzed using time perspectivism and are linked spatially and temporally to one another as indicated in the headstone inscriptions and decorative motifs. This case study provides an example of short-term scale change in which the Mennonites transition from Standard German to English. Much of this paper s focus is on the Epp cemetery, which when viewed as a palimpsest of meaning show …

Aging In America: Now And When, Laura Ihrig

Nebraska Anthropologist

The following paper is a study of aging in two societies, the United States and the traditional culture of the !Kung of western Botswana, Africa. The material reviewed includes current and projected population trends, cultural norms with regard to the elderly, and potential future implications of the gathered information. Resources consisted of journal articles, books, and government agency reports.

An Examination Of Autism Spectrum Disorders In Relation To Human Evolution And Life History Theory, Daniel E. Lomelin

Nebraska Anthropologist

Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders are multifaceted conditions that are being diagnosed increasingly in Western nations. Current research suggests genetic and epigenetic effects as well as social and environmental conditions all playing direct roles in the expression and development of these disorders. Evaluating the development of the human brain s increased intelligence and plasticity in terms of human life history and evolutionary trade offs allows for new hypotheses to be formed regarding the development of the disorders. Aspects of the broad autism phenotype may have given ancient humans advantages in tool making and mechanical thinking, thus preserving the trait in …

Deconstructing The Hopewell Interaction Sphere, Steven Sarich

Nebraska Anthropologist

It is the intention of this paper to ponder the impetus behind the Hopewell Interaction Sphere and relate it back to the Hopewell society as a whole. I will present a number of models offered by other researchers and find a common theme that connects them all, namely ceremonialism. Socially valued items and ceremonialism are closely tied according to Katherine Spielmann and so through close examination I will find out how close they are. Also, more contemporary cross-cultural examples of ritual exchange will be presented to show its prevalence through time.

Nebraska Anthropologist Volume 25 : 2010 Table Of Contents

Nebraska Anthropologist

Indigenous Archaeology: Historical Interpretation from an Emic Perspective (Stephanie M. Kennedy)

A Response to "Indigenous Archaeology: Historical Interpretation from an Emic Perspective" - from a Native American Archaeologist's Perspective (Albert M. LeBeau III and Andrew E. LaBounty)

Mitochondrial and Y-Chromosomal DNA in the Analysis of Kinship: Methods, Current Practices, and Areas of Further Inquiry (Anne M. Cafer)

Deconstructing the Hopewell Interaction Sphere (Steven Sarich)

Time Perspectivism as Applied to Three Mennonite Cemeteries in York County, Nebraska (Tayrah Epp)

An Examination of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Relation to Human Evolution and Life History Theory (Daniel E. Lomelin)

Grave Vows: A Cross-Cultural …

A Response To "Indigenous Archaeology: Historical Interpretation From An Emic Perspective" - From A Native American Archaeologist's Perspective, Albert M. Lebeau Iii, Andrew E. Labounty

Nebraska Anthropologist

This response is written from the point of view of the senior author, the former Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. It is not intended as a rebuttal, per se, but rather an expansion upon the topics addressed in Kennedy's "Indigenous Archaeology: Historical Interpretation from an Emic Perspective." This response is thus designed (and was sought by the Nebraska Anthropologist editorial staff) to broaden the reader's understanding of a complex topic within archaeology.

Indigenous Archaeology: Historical Interpretation From An Emic Perspective, Stephanie M. Kennedy

Nebraska Anthropologist

This inquiry explores indigenous archaeology as a form of resistance to dominant Western science. Literature was identified and analyzed pertaining to the success of indigenous archaeology in the United States, British Columbia, and Australia. It is argued that a more inclusive archaeology is necessary, one that encourages partnerships with Indigenous groups in the interpretation of their own past. This study has implications for how we perceive Indigenous peoples from an archaeological perspective.

Grave Vows: A Cross-Cultural Examination Of The Varying Forms Of Ghost Marriage Among Five Societies, Lucas J. Schwartze

Nebraska Anthropologist

Marriage is one of the most ubiquitous social relationships in human societies. However, the forms this institution takes do not follow the same patterns across all cultures. This paper examines one of the rarer forms of marriage; ghost marriage. After introducing the societies that practice this rare form of marriage, the similarities and differences between the forms this practice takes are examined. Various scholarly explanations for this form of marriage are presented as well.

Paths To Zion: The Mormon Settlement At Wyoming, Ne, Sherri L. Sklenar

Nebraska Anthropologist

This preliminary study examined the cultural and logistical factors underlying the settlement of the historic town of nyoming, Nebraska. Located along the Mormon Trail, this site provides a new window for understanding the dynamics of nineteenth century u.s. emigrant trails. Utilizing a body of primary and secondary documents as well as cartographic source, the preliminary analysis revealed two integrated themes: (1) frontier logistics and expansion and (2) religious values and experiences. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormons, needed both a prosperous town to equip themselves for their journey to Salt Lake City and a smaller …

Shipbuilding And The English International Timber Trade, 1300-1700: A Framework For Study Using Niche Construction Theory, Jillian R. Smith

Nebraska Anthropologist

Much scholarship has been undertaken with regards to the evolution of the European shipbuilding traditions and their physical changes, but few explanations for the changes are given. This paper seeks to identify the correlations between the expansion of the English timber trade in the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries and the changes in shipbuilding at the time, thereby creating a framework for future study of this correlation and its possible relatedness using Niche Construction Theory as a framework. Directions the research can take and the data needed are the focus of this work.

The Expansion Of Class Concepts And The Colorado Coal Field War Project, David M. Amrine

Nebraska Anthropologist

The Colorado Coal Field War Project was an attempt by McGuire, Reckner, and others to develop a 'working-class' archaeology that served the public as well as the archaeologists performing excavations and research. The attempt was successful, promoting and supporting ideas that had been discussed in archaeology about gender, class, and the treatment of archaeology as a craft. Their example of using archaeology to benefit communities as well as academic interests can and should be tested in other regions of the United States as well as the rest of the world.

A Preliminary Survey Of Lesser-Known Polyandrous Societies, Katie Starkweather

Nebraska Anthropologist

To challenge the common misconception that there are only four societies in the world that allow polyandry, this paper uses types of polyandry, suggested by Levine and Sangree (1980), to identify polyandrous societies from India, Africa, South America, and North America. Basic issues of these societies are examined within the context of four commonly cited attempts to explain the existence of polyandry. The goal of the paper is a preliminary look at the existence of polyandry around the world and an initial exploration of issues that mayor may not be associated with this form of marriage.

Utopian And Communal Societies: The Importance Of Institutionalized Awe Through Ideology, Matthew H. Brittingham

Nebraska Anthropologist

America s utopian and communal societies have a long history of using transcendence as a commitment mechanism for followers and converts. The most prevalent commitment mechanism is institutionalized awe through ideology. This principle is extremely important to utopian communities and societies in terms of longevity. Sometimes the ideologies need to be changed in order to help a community sustain awe, and, through the awe, membership. Some of the most successful utopian communities in American history utilized the flexibility of their ideologies to maintain awe and sustain the needs of their members, especially in tragic and difficult circumstances. The American communal …

"This Countries Ladies": Gender Negotiations At The Northwest Company, Grand Portage, Andrew E. Labounty

Nebraska Anthropologist

French interactions with Indians during the fur trade were characterized by intermarriage and cultural assimilation. Later, when Canadian traders took over, women were notably present at the Northwest Company s depot at Grand Portage, and participated in its affairs. Although the seasonal workings of Canadian fur trade depots are well-established, gender roles have been typically overlooked in the day-to-day recount of fur trade societies. This paper will thus investigate the aspect of gender at fur trade posts, and particularly at Grand Portage, as a study in cross-cultural negotiations for the fulfillment of gender roles.

Domestication And Significance Of Persea Americana, The Avocado, In Mesoamerica, Amanda J. Landon

Nebraska Anthropologist

The avocado (persea americana) is grown all over the modern world in tropical and subtropical climates for food and cosmetics (Humani 1987). In antiquity, the avocado was important to the Ancient Maya not only for food but also as a part of their mythology. Avocados were grown in sacred gardens, and important ancestors were thought to become reborn through fruit trees, including the avocado. Here, I examine the cultural context of the avocado and the issues related to understanding the domestication of the avocado and other tropical fruit trees. I discuss archaeological and molecular evidence, and offer direction …

Nebraska Anthropologist Volume 24 : 2009 Table Of Contents

Nebraska Anthropologist

The Expansion of Class Concepts and the Colorado Coal Field War Project (David M. Amrine)

A Preliminary Survey of Lesser-Known Polyandrous Societies (Katie E. Starkweather)

"This Countries Ladies": Gender Negotiations at the Northwest Company, Grand Portage (Andrew E. LaBounty)

Utopian and Communal Societies: The Importance of Institutionalized Awe Through Ideology (Matthew H. Brittingham)

Domestication and Significance of Persea americana, the Avocado, in Mesoamerica (Amanda J. Landon)

Trends of Pathogen Overload and the Influence on Social Behavior (Dylan Wall)

Shipbuilding and the English International Timber Trade, 1300-1700: a framework for study using Niche Construction Theory (Jillian R. Smith)

Trends Of Pathogen Overload And The Influence On Social Behavior, Dylan Wall

Nebraska Anthropologist

A review of the literature has been undertaken showing that higher levels of pathogen stress have been positively correlated with multiple aspects of social structure: non-sororal polygyny (Ember et al. 2007; Low 1990), exogamy and bride capture (Low 1990), resource defense (Barber 2008; Hames 1996), and male-female body alteration (Singh and Bronstad 1997). Non-sororal polygyny is the most effective reproductive strategy to defend against pathogen stress, as it promotes much genetic variability within gene pools, allowing for more pathogenic resistance in individuals because of heterozygous al/eles. In order to secure mates while faced with ecological extremes, individuals will modify their …

Temporal Insanity: Woodland Archaeology And The Construction Of Valid Chronologies, Erin C. Dempsey

Nebraska Anthropologist

This paper will bring to light the problems existing in the current, working chronology employed in Woodland Period archaeology and determine how, possibly, these problems can be alleviated. I assert that creating new chronologies that speak to specific research questions and doing away with a static and unchanging culture-historical perspective in Woodland Period archaeology will help archaeologists better investigate how people lived and interacted during this time and, more importantly, how they facilitated and experienced cultural change in the Eastern Woodlands of North America. By lifting the framework culture history has superimposed on the archaeology of Woodland peoples (i.e. Adena, …

Technological Introductions And Social Change: European Technology On The Great Plains, Andrew Labounty

Nebraska Anthropologist

This paper will explore the changing structure of American Indian society with the introduction of Euro-American technology and practices on the Plains. I intend to compare and contrast social aspects of Indian culture before and after contact, including the presence and intensity of marriage exchanges, levels of exogamy, the intensity of polygyny, and degree of stratification among native groups. These comparisons will shed light on the mechanisms of culture change, showing the entire process to be gradual and often due to conscious, immediately beneficial decisions.