A Comparative Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains from Parowan Fremont, Virgin Anasazi, and Kayenta Anasazi Archaeological Sites
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1992 A comparative analysis of human skeletal remains from Parowan Fremont, Virgin Anasazi, and Kayenta Anasazi archaeological sites Heidi Roberts University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Roberts, Heidi, "A comparative analysis of human skeletal remains from Parowan Fremont, Virgin Anasazi, and Kayenta Anasazi archaeological sites" (1992). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 184. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/p8v0-v87l This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand corner and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. University Microfilms International A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 Order Number 1348082 A comparative analysis of human skeletal remains from Parowan Fremont, Virgin Anasazi, and Kayenta Anasazi archaeological sites Roberts, Heidi, M.A. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1991 UMI 300 N. ZeebRd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS FROM PAROWAN FREMONT, VIRGIN ANASAZI, AND KAYENTA ANASAZI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES by Heidi Roberts A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology Anthropology Department University of Nevada, Las Vegas December, 1991 The thesis of Heidi Roberts for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology is approved. Chairperson, Sheilagh Brooks, Ph.D. Examining Committee Member, Richard Brooks, Ph.D. Ix^m m in^p^m ittee^lem ber, Gary Palmer, Ph.D. /Vu_y jraduate Faculty Representative, Donald Cams, Ph.D. Graduate Dean University of Nevada, Las Vegas December, 1991 ABSTRACT Human skeletal remains from three prehistoric cultural traditions, the Parowan Fremont, the Virgin Anasazi, and the Kayenta Anasazi are examined. The objective of this study is to determine the extent of differences in the skeletal remains and burial practices of the 125 individuals studied. Statistical comparisons of stature, robusticity, and cranial measurements show no significant differences in skeletal metric traits. The small size of the skeletal series precluded the use of statistical methods in the comparison of nonmetric traits, however, preliminary results show that Virgin Anasazi cranial nonmetric traits are more similar to an Anasazi series studied by Birkby (1973) than to the Parowan Fremont series. While most individuals in the three series were healthy, the prevalence of periostitis, osteitis, and linear enamel hypoplasia was found to be highest among Virgin Anasazi individuals. Two other pathological conditions frequently identified in prehistoric skeletal series, porotic hyperostosis and cribra orbitalia, were most common among the Kayenta individuals and the least prevalent among Parowan Fremont individuals. These findings are in agreement with current settlement and subsistence reconstructions. The mortuary practices of the three cultures were also compared. A summary of burial practices described in the literature plus new data evaluated in this study, found a good deal of variability in the burial record. Unique mortuary practices such as red pigmentation on Parowan Fremont skeletons, roofed graves at the Coombs Site (Kayenta Anasazi), and the inclusion of shell ornaments in Virgin Anasazi burials were recognized. At this time it is not evident that the burial practices of the Coombs Site people were more like the Virgin Anasazi practices than the Parowan Fremont practices. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF TABLES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................... .1 CHAPTER 2 M ETH O D S..................................................................................... .8 Determination of Sex ...................................................... .8 Estimation of Age at Death............................................ .9 Cranial Modification ........................................................ .12 Cranial and Postcranial Measurements and Indices. .13 Stature Estimation ............................................................ .14 Cranial and Postcranial Nonmetric Traits .................. .15 Composition and Provenience of the Skeletal Series .17 Paleopathological Conditions ........................................ .21 CHAPTER 3 A SELECTIVE REVIEW OF PREVIOUS RESEARCH.......... .28 Parowan Fremont ............................................................. 30 Virgin Anasazi .................................................................. .38 Nevada Virgin Anasazi .................................................. 39 Utah Virgin Anasazi ........................................................ .43 Coombs Site (Kayenta Anasazi) .................................... 49 Summary of Recovered Osteological Data ................. 51 CHAPTER 4 MORTUARY PRACTICES.......................................................... 53 Parowan Fremont ............................................................. 56 Virgin Anasazi .................................................................. 61 The Coombs Site............................................................... 70 S um m ary ........................................................................... 74 CHAPTER 5 SETTLEMENT AND SUBSISTENCE....................................... 80 Parowan Fremont .............................................................. 81 Virgin Anasazi ................................................................... 82 The Coombs Site................................................................ 86 S um m ary ............................................................................ 87 iv CHAPTER 6 SKELETAL ANALYSIS........................................................................................89 D em ography..............................................................................................89 Cranial Modification ................................................................................ 95 Pathological Conditions ..........................................................................98 S um m ary .................................................................................................... 105 CHAPTER 7 METRIC AND NON METRIC ANALYSIS..................................................... 112 Cranial Metric Variation ..........................................................................112 Post Cranial Metric Variation .................................................................114 Nonmetric Traits ........................................................................................118 CHAPTER 8 SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION........................................................................124 Mortuary Practices ................................................................................... 125 Metric and Nonmetric Trait Variation .................................................129 Paleopathological Conditions and Dietary Implications ................. 130 REFERENCES.....................................................................................................................135 APPENDIX 1 - RECORDING FORMS.......................................................................... 148 APPENDIX 2 - METRIC AND NONMETRIC TRAITS............................................160 APPENDIX 3 - ASSOCIATED ARTIFACTS................................................................169 APPENDIX 4 - CRANIAL AND POSTCRANIAL MEASUREMENTS................ 176 APPENDIX 5 - T-TESTS