Southern Illinois University Carbondale OpenSIUC Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 8-1-2018 SHIFTING PATTERNS OF LIMB STRENGTH AMONG PLAINS VILLAGE HORTICULTURALISTS: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF CROSS- SECTIONAL GEOMETRY TO UNDERSTAND CULTURAL HC ANGE Ryan Michael Campbell Southern Illinois University Carbondale, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Campbell, Ryan Michael, "SHIFTING PATTERNS OF LIMB STRENGTH AMONG PLAINS VILLAGE HORTICULTURALISTS: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF CROSS-SECTIONAL GEOMETRY TO UNDERSTAND CULTURAL CHANGE" (2018). Dissertations. 1586. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/dissertations/1586 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at OpenSIUC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of OpenSIUC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SHIFTING PATTERNS OF LIMB STRENGTH AMONG PLAINS VILLAGE HORTICULTURALISTS: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF CROSS-SECTIONAL GEOMETRY TO UNDERSTAND CULTURAL CHANGE by Ryan M. Campbell B.A., Wichita State University, 2003 M.A., Wichita State University, 2005 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree Department of Anthropology in the Graduate School Southern Illinois University Carbondale August 2018 Copyright by RYAN M. CAMPBELL, 2018 All Rights Reserved DISSERTATION APPROVAL SHIFTING PATTERNS OF LIMB STRENGTH AMONG PLAINS VILLAGE HORTICULTURALISTS: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF CROSS-SECTIONAL GEOMETRY TO UNDERSTAND CULTURAL CHANGE By Ryan M. Campbell A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Anthropology Approved by: Dr. Susan M. Ford, Co-Chair Dr. Robert S. Corruccini, Co-chair Dr. Paul D. Welch Dr. Mark J. Wagner Dr. David E. Sutton Dr. Benjamin M. Auerbach Graduate School Southern Illinois University Carbondale June 15, 2018 AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF RYAN M. CAMPBELL, for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in ANTHROPOLOGY, presented on June 15, 2018, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: SHIFTING PATTERNS OF LIMB STRENGTH AMONG PLAINS VILLAGE HORTICULTURALISTS: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE USE OF CROSS- SECTIONAL GEOMETRY TO UNDERSTAND CULTURAL CHANGE MAJOR PROFESSORS: Dr. Susan M. Ford and Dr. Robert S. Corruccini This dissertation presents the results of a comparison of human skeletons from two historic villages (the Larson site, 39WW2, and the Leavenworth site, 39CO9), which were inhabited by Great Plains Village Horticulturalists following the arrival of Europeans and Americans. The people living at these villages are suspected to have experienced changes to their cultural practices, with Larson occupied during the beginning of the Post-Contact period and Leavenworth occupied just before the complete abandonment of the Plains Village lifeway. This study examines whether observed differences in the strength of the bones of their limbs resulted from different activities performed at each village or if the introduction of new genes may have altered limb bone shape during the Post-Contact period. The analysis relies on the examination of limb bone strength (cross-sectional properties) to identify patterns related to activities, but unlike previous studies that examine cross-sectional properties, this analysis includes a measure of biological distance to determine if biological kin share limb bone shape. The results indicate some general trends in limb strength during the Post-Contact period including a reduction in male lower limb bone strength and increased asymmetry in the lower limbs of the women at the later village, and many variables indicate greater variation in limb bone strength among women from both villages. While it is difficult to draw any definitive conclusions about activity, the patterns seem to support accounts from the archaeological and historic records regarding the introduction of new cultural practices and a reduction in mobility, i especially among males. The interpretation that these patterns may result from changing activities is bolstered by the analysis of biological distance. Mantel results comparing biodistance scores based on odontometry and distance scores based on limb geometry indicate that intragroup pairwise distance scores rarely correlate, with the left humeri being the most consistent exception to this pattern. The left humeri (and potentially the radius and ulna) may exhibit similarities among related individuals due to these non-dominant bones receiving relatively less biomechanical stress during activities. A seeming paradox developed in the analysis when groups (male and female samples from each site) were compared. Unlike biodistance between individuals, the groups exhibiting the greatest genetic similarities also exhibit the greatest similarity in the cross-sectional shape of their right and left femora, right humeri, and right radii, with the mid-section of the femur exhibiting the most consistent correlation regardless of the side used in the analyses. These bones seem to be the ones experiencing the greatest biomechanical stress during activities. At the group level, shape for those bones experiencing a relatively high degree of biomechanical stress during activity seem to mirror genetic relationships. These correlations may result from a convergence between genetic patterns and activity patterns. Despite greater univariate variation within each sample, females across the two sites exhibit closer biological distances than do the males. This result may be due to both matrilocality, which creates less variation within the female population over time, and continuity in female activity over time. By contrast, males exhibit a greater degree of divergence, suggesting that males from each site are more genetically dissimilar than females and that they may have experienced a greater degree of change to their activities. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS While I am the sole author of this work, the completion of this dissertation required the support of numerous individuals who I feel were integral in its completion. The continued support of my committee during this process has allowed me to find my way as a researcher. This includes Dr. Robert Corruccini who, as my original committee chair, encouraged me to develop this project and provided me with the education necessary to undertake this analysis on my own, and Dr. Susan Ford, who took me on as a graduate student after the retirement of Dr. Corruccini. I want to thank Dr. Paul Welch and Dr. Mark Wagner, who have both provided me with thought-provoking conversations that made this a better document. I especially would like to acknowledge the support of Dr. Benjamin Auerbach, who not only helped me develop the research but also provided me with access to the collections and equipment necessary to complete the analysis. I will forever be grateful to these mentors for the opportunities that were presented to me as a young graduate student and the support that my committee has continued to provide as I developed this research. I would like to thank the Anthropology Department at the University of Tennessee Knoxville for allowing me to access their collections and use their facilities during the data collection process. My graduate cohort also deserve my gratitude for providing a competitive, yet academically stimulating environment where I came into my own as a researcher. To my family, I would like to say thank you for your continued support and patience during the long journey that is required for the completion of a doctorate degree. Who knew, this process took so long?! Finally, I must thank my two dearest friends, my wife, Dr. Meadow Campbell, and friend, Susannah Munson, who have both provided me with emotional support and encouragement over the years. Without them, I would not have found the strength to complete this dissertation. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 STUDY SETTING.......................................................................................................... 3 METHODOLOGICAL CONCERNS ............................................................................. 7 RESEARCH GOALS ................................................................................................... 11 ORGANIZATION OF CHAPTERS ............................................................................ 15 CHAPTER 2 THE INDIGENOUS HORTICULTURALISTS OF THE GREAT PLAINS ....... 17 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING .................................................................................. 18 GREAT PLAINS