Graduate Forum 2024

Please join us for the 8th annual Grad Forum where our Public Issues Anthropology MA students will present their research. Meet and greet our graduate students and professors and enjoy some lunch and refreshments!

Presentations

Amanda Kubiak - Identifying the Minimum Number of Sub-Adult Individuals in Grave 6 at WF100, Jordan 

This study is an analysis of the Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI) and the Most Likely Number of Individuals (MLNI) based on sub-adult remains from Grave 6 at the Early Bronze Age site of Wadi Faynan 100, Jordan. Because this collection is highly fragmentary and commingled, these two methods were used together to provide a confident estimate of the number of individuals buried. This study reflects on the use of traditional methods and recent developments to determine how many individuals are present within a grave. 

Olivia Vieira - Trauma Pattern Analysis at Early Bronze Age Wadi Faynan 100, Jordan 

This study is a trauma pattern analysis of the commingled remains of the 13 charnel houses at Wadi Faynan 100 in Jordan, dating to the Early Bronze Age IB (3300-3000 B.C.E). A sample of 465 elements was assessed for indicators of trauma to reveal the frequency and patterning of trauma at Wadi Faynan 100. Trauma was observed in 10 elements (a prevalence of 2.15%), with evidence of both sharp force and blunt force trauma. Despite the limitations imposed by the commingled nature and level of preservation of the human remains, this research has identified several examples of various forms of traumatic injury. While the prevalence of trauma was low, it does indicate the presence of interpersonal violence, instances of care, and the lack of physical hazards from occupations or the environment. 

Kasiah Ruddell - Echoes of Contamination: Investigating heavy metal exposure at Wadi Faynan 100, Jordan 

Located in southern Jordan, Wadi Faynan was once a center for copper mining, smelting and trade during the Early Bronze Age (EBA). Contemporary and ancient copper production has been shown to deposit heavy metals into the environment. The legacy of pollution in Wadi Faynan is visible in the contemporary landscape in the form of spoil tips and over 250 mines. The largest EBA site in the region is Wadi Faynan 100 (WF100), which dates to EBA Ib (3300-3000 BCE) and has clear evidence of copper production including copper ores, slag, and copper casting molds. This research employed laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to measure trace element concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd),and arsenic (As) in 29 human teeth from WF100 to determine if copper production during the EBA Ib introduced heavy metal toxicity into the population. The results indicate inter- and intra-individual variation in the uptake of heavy metals across the sample population, which gives insight into the participation of copper mining and smelting practices at WF100. 

Andrew Young - Climate Volatility and Human Adaptation in the Eastern Arctic: A Paleoclimatic Approach 

This research investigates how climate volatility influenced human settlement and survival in the Eastern Arctic, focusing on the Saqqaq, Dorset, and Thule cultures. By analyzing temperature deviations and sea surface temperatures (SSTs) through rolling standard deviations, this study quantifies periods of environmental instability and explores their effects on resource availability. The findings suggest that varying degrees of climate volatility played a crucial role in shaping the subsistence strategies and adaptive responses of these Arctic populations, with periods of heightened volatility correlating with shifts in settlement patterns and resource use. This study provides new insights into how ancient Arctic cultures navigated the challenges posed by unpredictable and changing climates. 

The Graduate Forum is free to attend and all are welcome. Please register below to join us and learn more about our students' new research topics. Parking is available in Lot C for $5.00.