Anzick Skeleton found: Possible proof for Asian lineage within Native American population

    According to DNA from the remains of an infant found in modern day western Montana, archaeologists suspect that this particular individual is potential evidence for the theory that Clovis people were descendants from individuals originally located in Asia. Of the DNA that was retrieved from the skull of the infant, only 1-2% of it was human (Than, 2014), the remaining majority being that of bacteria growing on the cranium. I do not want to seem ignorant, due to the fact that I know very little of Native American lineage and DNA analysis, but it seems quite extreme to conclude that 1-2% of DNA can create enough evidence to support that all Native Americans are descendants from Asian ancestors. To add to that, later in the article it mentions that Native American groups in the United States are reluctant to share both their and their ancestor's DNA with scientists (Than, 2014). With minuscule amounts of human DNA being extracted from the juvenile Anzick's skeleton and an extremely small comparative sample from the U.S Native American population, based completely on statements made in this particular article (Article sited below), conclusions being made at the present time seem quite hasty. Possibly through broader comparative analysis of modern North American DNA samples (not simply the U.S), evidence for Asian descendants amongst the Native American populations can be better supported.

Western Montana, Photo by Mike Waters

Than, K. (2014), Oldest Burial Yields DNA Evidence of First Americans: Ancient genome confirms link between Asians and Native Americans. National Geographic Daily News, published February 12, 2014, retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/02/140212-anzik-skeleton-dna-montana-clovis-culture-first-americans/
    

Hopewell Mound Skulls: Interpreting the Unknown

Rdikeman

    Often with the discovery, or re-interpretation of previously excavated burials, it it difficult to determine whether or not dismemberment was done as part of mortuary practice, or during the act of violence. Because these remains are ancient, and all living relatives have long passed on, deciphering cut marks and dismemberment of bones is often quite difficult and takes a multiple discipline approach to formulate a precise hypothesis.
     Archaeologists excavation Hopewell mounds came across this exact predicament. Anthropologists from the University of Sao Paulo and the University of Cambridge,questioned whether the dismembered skulls found in Chillicothe, Ohio, were that of mortuary practices amongst honoured ancestors, or victims of violent trauma (Lepper, 2014).

Mounds at Hopewell: wikipedia

    After closely analysing 112 skulls from a collection of skulls known to be the product of headhunting practice amongst the Borneo, it was still unclear whether or not those skulls from the Hopewell mounds were the also the products of violent trauma. The arachaeologists eventually conclude that the skulls were more likely to be those of honoured ancestors, although I find this conclusion slightly hastened.  
    It was mentioned in the article that the archaeologists did not have an in-depth background in the Borneo's headhunting practices (Lepper, 2014). I personally find it odd that a conclusion can then be made using the skulls from the Borneo comparative collection, when none of the archaeologists have any amount of historical background in regards to Borneo's headhunting practices.


The article I referenced can be found here:
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/science/2014/03/02/hopewell-skulls-pose-a-mystery.html

Burial Analyis: What would I Bring With Me?

End of Summer Fishing (2013)

    When excavating graves, studying merely the skeleton of the deceased is an extremely poor way of understanding and piecing together that particular person’s life. Analysing material grave goods, although difficult to understand exactly what significance they played In the life of the individual, gives archaeologists and anthropologist a small glimpse into what was important to both the deceased and the mourner’s lives at that particular time. Material grave goods are a distorted reflection of society at that particular period of time.

    In my Archaeology of Death class we were given the blog prompt to think about what we personally, and others, would put in our own graves. The first couple people I asked immediately said that they’d bury my dog Bentley with me. Evidently, this would be slightly morbid seeing as he’s still alive and well, therefore something a little more humane would be to include Bentley’s collar. Bentley and I have been inseparable since our first meeting in Cow Bay, Nova Scotia. He’s lived with me in New Brunswick, Alberta, and now Victoria, were he’s grown to be the third roommate and best friend of  stressed out university students. By including his collar as a grave good, although not lavish and expensive, I believe it would be a great representation of the bond I have with dogs, and animals in general.

Home (2013)

Bentley (2014)

      I asked a very close friend what she would dress me in for my burial and she instantly listed off a beautiful, and what I think personally, is a terrific final outfit choice: a button up plaid-flannel, complete with comfy jeans, and birkenstocks with wool socks. Not being dressed in the traditional formal clothing that the deceased are often dressed in, would definitely raise some questions amongst the archaeologists that dug me up.

     Everyone who knows me knows that I am extremely proud to be from the East Coast of Canada, Therefore, I would also include both a Nova Scotia and New Brunswick flag in my burial. These flags represent my roots, and the pride I have for the Maritimes.

Near Halifax, NS (2012)

                

St Stephen's Cemetery Reaction

St Stephen's Anglican Church & Cemetery:ToadHollowPhoto 

     For the past week and a half or so, in my Archaeology of Death course, we were given an assignment requiring the use of Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access. The assignment required the analysis of a fair amount of data gathered from the St Stephen's Cemetery, and an interpretation of that data. When first receiving the database, I did not at all anticipate the reaction I would have towards the information. It was easy enough reading about plot style and monuments, but then came the information regarding age at death and cause of death. Reading about t children and young adults whose lives were cut short made the assignment much more real and personal. The notes section and cause of death sections in the database really made the information seem much more than just information; it gave each member who was deceased, life.
     I do have to say that working with the Excel program itself was extremely confusing and difficult to manipulate (I didn't have Access on my computer, therefore I used Excel solely). After many visits to google and several colourful words getting thrown around, I managed to complete the assignment. My biggest issue would be that the organization and layout of the data after it was exported to Excel from Access was extremely messy and difficult to manipulate efficiently. I ended up opening a clean Excel spreadsheet and choosing specifically which information I wanted to work with and copying and pasting it to the new spreadsheet. Although this was extremely time consuming, it was a lot more organized and linear use of the information given in the original database.

A little tid-bit about myself

      Hi! Let's start this off with me telling the entirety of the internet a little bit about myself. My name is Kelsey, I am an Anthropology student at the University of Victoria. Although B.C is not my home, it definitely has grown on me. Two years ago, I moved here from the East Coast of Canada. When I say East Coast, I don't mean Ontario or Quebec, I'm talking about growing up in the countrysides of Cape Breton Island, living in small fishing communities over in PEI, and then topping it all off with settling in the most redneck part of New Brunswick, way back in the sticks.

Marble Mountain, Cape Breton (2010)

     I decided to move B.C for school, never having set foot on Uvic's campus beforehand, after talking to a representative for the Anthro department on the phone. Being spontaneous, naive and whatnot, I jumped on the opportunity to experience something new. After two years here, I still get poked at for sounding like a pirate with my "hard R's", and I do enjoy listening to some Matt Andersen (seriously, go listen to him right now), and The Rankin Family now and again, but I definitely do not regret coming here. I would say that is what sparked my interest regarding the field of Anthropology and Archaeology; having the chance to experience something new and unknown. Ever since I could remember I have been watching programs on the History channel about the Egyptians, fascinated and in awe over the ruins of Angkor, and completely enveloped years ago when my old history teachers would talk about the Battle of Thermopylae. Our history is so confusing, expansive, and amazing, and although I really do not have a clue career-wise where my life is headed, all I can hope is that I end up doing something to uncover a bit of it.