Anthropology Commons^™

Coupling Ground Penetrating Radar Applications With Continually Changing Decomposing Human Remains, Michelle Lee Miller

Michelle Miller

Locating the clandestine burial of human remains has long perplexed law enforcement officials involved in crime scene investigations, and continues to bewilder all the scientific disciplines that have been incorporated into their search and recovery. Locating concealed human remains can often be compared to the proverbial search for a needle in the haystack. Many notable forensic specialists and law enforcement agencies, in an effort to alleviate some of the bewilderment that commonly accompanies the search for a buried body, suggest that multidisciplinary search efforts are becoming more of a necessity, and less of an option. Research at the University of …

Historic Gravestone Fragments: A Collections Management Plan, Harley A. Erickson

Northeast Historical Archaeology

The author discusses the importance of historic gravestone fragments and presents a comprehensive management plan for their collection and maintenance. The plan is the culmination of a study of a large collection of fragments belonging to the City of Boston Historic Burying Grounds Initiative. Gravestones are important historical artifacts that must be preserved. An organized and manageable collection is crucial for research, and the proper handling, recording, and storage of gravestone fragments must be undertaken with care. The collection and conservation of fragments must be ongoing and should be a top priority of preservationists. It appears, however, that few policies …

Home Thoughts From Abroad: Some Observations On Contract Archaeology In England, James Symonds

Northeast Historical Archaeology

This paper was written following a recent visit by the author to the United States and Canada. It aims to provide a view of contemporary archaeological practice in England for North American readers and to draw comparisons between the working environment of field archaeologists on either side of the Atlantic. Reference is made to the relatively recent growth of commercial archaeology in England and to tensions that have emerged as a consequence of the re-structuring of the profession. It is argued that despite a substantial increase in the level of funding available from the private sector there has been little …

Editors' Introduction, Mary C. Beaudry, Ann-Eliza H. Lewis

Northeast Historical Archaeology

The editors give an introduction to the volume.

Owen County, Kentucky - Cultural Resource Survey (Fa 620), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 620. This collection features information and oral histories gathered from residents of Owen County, Kentucky.

Fleming County, Kentucky Cultural Resource Survey (Fa 619), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 619. This collection features information gathered through oral histories and observation about the cultural resources in Fleming County, Kentucky.

Synergistic Communities For Biochar, Albert Bates, Jonathan Bates, Peter Hirst

USBI Biochar Conferences

Biochar & Permaculture: Albert Bates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afaKoWXsRiU

Biochar & Aquaponics: Jonathan Bates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c21drA2KS4

Jonathan will present his experience using biochar as a powerful growing medium in aquaponic systems. Aquaponics being the culturing of fish and plants together ecologically in closed systems (the merging of aquaculture and hydroponics). Biochar grow media benefits aquaponic systems in multiple ways, including its light weight, local sourcing, bio-chemical qualities, ecological nature, and affordable price. Through pictures and discussion he will show how his experiment has faired, and offer ideas for economic opportunities of aquaponic biochar in the Northeast.

Biochar & the Klamath Hydro Settlement: Peter Hirst …

Review Essay: Private Lives And Armory Practice: Artifacts And Armsmaking Reconsidered, Regina Lee Blaszczyk

Northeast Historical Archaeology

Review of Colt: The Making of an American Legend by William N. Hosley, Jr., 1996. University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst and Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford. 254 pp., illustrations, and notes, $49.95 (cloth), $29.95 (paper); and Culture Change and the New Technology: An Archaeology of the Early American Industrial Era by Paul A. Shackel, 1996. Contributions to Global Historical Archaeology, series edited by Charles E. Orser, Jr. Plenum Press, NY. 217 pp., illustrations, appendix, bibliography, and notes, $37.50.

Geophysical Exploration In The U.S. National Parks, Bruce Bevan

Northeast Historical Archaeology

Results from several dozen geophysical surveys at national parks in the United States are summarized here. Illustrations from both succesfful and unsuccessful surveys show the advantages and limitations of geophysical exploration. Ground-penetrating radar and magnetometer surveys have been particularly suitable at sites on the coastal plain of the eastern U.S. While filled cellars can be quite easy to locate, a thinner scatter of rubble from a structure can be difficult to isolate. Cities provide almost impossible conditions for the success of a survey. Accumulations of debris in pits can be located, but privies and wells appear to be more difficult …

18th- And Early 19th-Century Brickmaking At The John Jay Homestead: The Process, Products, And Craftsmen, Lois M. Feister, Joseph S. Sopko

Northeast Historical Archaeology

On-site brick kilns were established routinely for construction projects at non-urban sites in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Archaeological excavations at the brick lot at the John Jay Homestead State Historic Site revealed features relating to the manufacture of a brick. Documentary and scientific research revealed information about the brickmakers and established a baseline for the identification of brick sources from three different areas of New York State. Comparisons between brickmakers at the Jay and Schuyler houses and between brickmakers and other craftsmen are discussed here.

"A Ray Of Sunshine In The Sickroom": Archaeological Insights Into Late 19th- And Early 20th-Century Medicine And Anesthesia, Richard Veit

Northeast Historical Archaeology

Archaeological excavation of a stone-lined feature dating to the late 19th- or early 20th-century in New Brunswick, New Jersey, retrieved a substantial quantity of discarded medical equipment. Artifacts recovered from the feature included syringes, thermometers, test tubes, and scalpels. These remains, associated with the tenure of two prominent physicians, provide an avenue for inquiry into late 19th-century medical practices.

Historic Cemeteries As Contested Grounds, Paul A. Robinson

Northeast Historical Archaeology

The author comments on the articles "This Church is for the Livinig": An Assessment of Archaeological Standards for the Removal of Cemeteries in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by James Garman and "Where Angels Fear to Tread": Cemetery Preservation Efforts by the Massachusetts Historical Commission by Edward Bell.

"Where Angels Fear To Tread": Cemetery Preservation Efforts By The Massachusetts Historical Commission, Edward L. Bell

Northeast Historical Archaeology

Professional archaeologists assist in the preservation of historical cemeteries that may be impacted by private or public projects. While historical cememtery preservation efforts in Massachusetts are strong, current laws are not effective in compelling archaeological intervention in all cases. Despite the problematic legal situation, the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has successfully advocated for preservation standards. In the case of the Harwich United Methodist Church (HUMC) Expansion Project, however, the proponents were unable and unwilling to comply fully with MHC's recommendations to mitigate unavoidable impacts to graves through systematic archaeological data recovery. Archaeological survey identified both marked and unmarked graves in …

"This Church Is For The Living": An Assessment Of Archaeological Standards For The Removal Of Cemeteries In Rhode Island And Massachusetts, James Garman

Northeast Historical Archaeology

Legislation in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts sets standards for the removal of European-American cemeteries and the reinterment of human remains. In both states, some degree of archaeological investigation short of excavation is usually required. This paper compares the two bodies of legislation, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of both systems. The focus then turns to two recent cemetery case studies, one at the site of a new school in Westerly, Rhode Island, and one at a church in Harwich, Massachusetts. The final section of the paper raises questions concerning the gaps between the intent of legislation and archaeological practice. …

Editor's Introduction, Mary C. Beaudry

Northeast Historical Archaeology

Editor's introduction to the volume.

Jackson County, Kentucky - Cultural Resource Survey (Fa 618), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

FA Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 618. This collection includes oral histories from Jackson County, Kentucky that were used in preparing a cultural resource report for the county.

Confronting Cultural Difference In The Establishment Of A Global Zen Community, Joshua A. Irizarry

2013 New England Association for Asian Studies Conference

As a commercial phenomenon, Zen is recognizable throughout the world as a lucrative brand name that communicates harmony, simplicity, and cosmopolitan elegance. In contrast, the Japanese Zen institution’s attempts to develop Zen into a successful global religion have proven more problematic. Despite initial successes by Japanese clergy in establishing centers of Zen practice throughout Europe and the Americas, the past fifty years have seen the dream of a global Zen community descend into a legacy of controversy, scandals, and schisms over conflicting claims of authority.

Looking specifically at the internationalization efforts of the Japanese Sōtō Zen sect, this paper will …

The Cult Of Ho Chi Minh: Commemoration And Contestation, Dat Manh Nguyen

2013 New England Association for Asian Studies Conference

Ho Chi Minh, the “father of modern Viet Nam,” remains a powerful figure in contemporary Vietnamese politics and culture. Since his death in 1969, the Vietnamese Communist Party has constructed a state cult surrounding his image. The construction of the Ho Chi Minh memorial complex in Hanoi, the propagation of Ho Chi Minh’s teachings, and the state commemorative rituals for Uncle Ho contribute to his continuous presence. The state cult posits Ho Chi Minh not only as the “father figure” to whom Vietnamese people pay respect and tribute, but also as the moral compass by which the people orient themselves …

Oral History Curation In An Academic Library, Barbara Lewis, Mary Beth Isaacson, Kimberly Nordon, Alexandra Curran

Barbara Lewis

This four-person roundtable will discuss the different methods and applications that are currently being used by the University of South Florida’s (USF) Oral History Program to curate, present, and promote oral histories. This program, which is based out of the USF Tampa Library, has explored several different delivery models, both traditional and nontraditional. We will examine the digital platforms used by the oral history program, Omeka, LibGuides, and an internally developed media player, and their accessibility and usability for research and teaching. These two platforms provide different structural and organizational models, thus allowing for different levels of curation. In 2009, …

The Role Of Culture In Making Psychiatric Diagnosis: Hwabyung (火病) And Neurasthenia (神經衰弱), Jonghyun Lee

2013 New England Association for Asian Studies Conference

The Role of Culture in Making Psychiatric Diagnosis: Hwabyung (火病) and Neurasthenia (神經衰弱)

My paper looks at two psychiatric illnesses and discusses their social and cultural dimensions. The two illnesses to be compared are the Korean affliction called hwabyung, and the once-popular Western malady labeled neurasthenia, a common ailment in 19th century America.

Neurasthenia was defined as “a disorder characterized by feelings of fatigue and lassitude,” which is caused by the nervous system. That definition could fit most people at some time or another. Hwabyung, on the other hand, means “fire illness.” Koreans believe that chronic distress can …