Historical Archaeology Volume 40, Number 3 2006 Journal of The Society for Historical Archaeology REBECCA ALLEN, Editor Past Foward, Inc. PO Box 969 Garden Valley, California 95633-0969 In association with Julia A. King, Associate Editor Published by THE SOCIETY FOR HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY IS INDEXED IN THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATIONS: ABSTRACTS OF ANTHROPOLOGY; AMERICA: HISTORY AND LIFE; ANTHROPOLOGICAL LITERATURE; ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY TECHNICAL ABSTRACTS; ARTS AND HUMANITIES INDEX; BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS; CURRENT CONTENTS/ ARTS AND HUMANITIES; HISTORICAL ABSTRACTS; HUMANITIES INDEX; AND INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES. Copyediting by Marianne Brokaw Houghton, Michigan Composition by Morgan Printing Austin, Texas ©2006 by The Society for Historical Archaeology Printed in the United States of America ISSN 0440-9213 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences–Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984. Contents Volume 40, No. 3 2006 CONTRIBUTORS INTRODUCTION Forensic Technology and the Historical Archaeologist JULIE SCHABLITSKY, KELLY J. DIXON, AND MARK D. LENEY 1 ARTICLES Genetic Archaeology: The Recovery and Interpretation of Nuclear DNA from a Nineteenth-Century Hypodermic Syringe JULIE SCHABLITSKY 8 Survival of Biological Evidence on Artifacts: Applying Forensic Techniques at the Boston Saloon, Virginia City, Nevada KELLY J. DIXON 20 Sampling Skeletal Remains for Ancient DNA (aDNA): A Measure of Success MARK D. LENEY 31 Search for the Grave of William Preston Longley, Hanged Texas Gunfighter DOUGLAS W. OWSLEY, BROOKS B. ELLWOOD, AND TERRY MELTON 50 Ground-Penetrating Radar Techniques to Discover and Map Historic Graves LAWRENCE B. CONYERS 64 Skeletal Remains from the Confederate Naval Sailor and Marines’ Cemetery, Charleston, SC WILLIAM D. STEVENS AND JONATHAN M. LEADER 74 The Man in the Iron Coffin: An Interdisciplinary Effort to Name the Past DOUGLAS W. OWSLEY, KARIN S. BRUWELHEIDE, LARRY W. CARTMELL, SR., LAURIE E. BURGESS, SHELLY J. FOOTE, SKYE M. CHANG, AND NICK FIELDER 90 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Bioarchaeology and the Modern Gun Culture Debate THOMAS A. CRIST 109 Uncapped Potential: Applying Firearms Identification Procedures in the Analysis of Percussion Caps KENT P. WEBER AND DOUGLAS D. SCOTT 131 Contributors Karin S. Bruwelheide, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 112, Washington, DC 20013-7012 Laurie E. Burgess, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 112, Washington, DC 20013-7012 Larry W. Cartmell, Sr., Department of Pathology, Valley View Regional Hospital, 421 N. Monta Vista, Ada, OK 74820 Skye M. Chang, MARC U*STAR Program, University of Hawai’i at Mañoa, 1993 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 Lawrence B. Conyers, Department of Anthropology, University of Denver, 2000 E. Asbury St., Denver, CO 80208 Thomas A. Crist, Utica College, 1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502-4892 Kelly J. Dixon, Department of Anthropology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812-0001 Brooks B. Ellwood, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 Nick Fielder, Tennessee Division of Archaeology, Department of Environment & Conservation, 5103 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211 Shelly J. Foote, Division of Social History, National Museum of American History, American History Building, Room 4128, Washington, DC 20560 Jonathan M. Leader, South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina, 1321 Pendleton St., Columbia, SC 29208 Mark D. Leney, Central Identification Laboratory, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, 310 Worcester Avenue, Bldg 45, Hickam Air Force Base, HI 96853-5530 Terry Melton, Mitotyping Technologies, LLC, 1981 Pine Hall Drive, State College, PA 16801 Douglas W. Owsley, Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 112, Washington, DC, 20013-7012 Julie Schablitsky, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, 1224 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1224 Douglas D. Scott, Midwest Archeolgical Center, National Park Service, Federal Building Room 474, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508 William D. Stevens, 108 Southeast Sedgewood Rd., Hopkins, SC 29061 Kent P. Weber, Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab, 1233 Arapahoe St., Lincoln, NE 68502 1 Julie Schablitsky from artifacts, and its creative application to Kelly J. Dixon archaeological sites by incorporating DNA Mark D. Leney results with documents, material culture, and site structure. In order to launch genetic archaeology’s application to historical sites, Forensic Technology and the this prelude provides a brief overview of human Historical Archaeologist DNA, along with its extraction and recovery techniques, before introducing the articles contained herein. Archaeological scholarship evolves, which Nuclear DNA and Mitochondrial DNA means even the most progressive research is fl eeting. Accordingly, the history of archaeol- The human genome consists of nuclear and ogy is riddled with innovative ways of explaining mitochondrial DNA. Nuclear DNA is present the past, and multiple, viable lines of interpreta- in 23 pairs of chromosomes within the nucleus tion can be pursued for any given archaeologi- of each cell, with a paternal and maternal chro- cal site. In this intellectual climate, the array of mosome inherited from each parent. Sex cells interpretive possibilities and research directions in (sperm and eggs), contain only a single genome historical archaeology appear to be blossoming; copy that consists of a recombined patchwork however, the humanistic directions seem risky, at of genes of both paternal and maternal origin. times idiosyncratic, and occasionally in need of Archaeologists and other research scientists use scientifi c explanations (Delle 1999:136; Cleland genomic nuclear DNA to reveal a person’s sex, 2001a:7, 2001b:30). allelic profi le, and rare allele variants in skeletal Incorporating forensic techniques and tests into and now artifactual samples. In addition, nuclear research allows archaeologists to verify otherwise DNA provides information that makes it possible tentative interpretations and create tangible links to determine the number, the sex, and possibly among people, places, and things. The application the ancestral origins of people who came into of forensic technology to archaeological problems contact with a particular artifact. Limitations of has already demonstrated that anthropologists nuclear DNA include its short shelf life, having can prove some of their interpretations beyond just two copies per cell, and the difficulty in a reasonable doubt (Connor and Scott 2001). showing direct ancestor/descendant relationships Today archaeologists can apply myriad forensic over many generations. techniques to their work to answer questions and Although nuclear DNA exists in the nucleus test hypotheses. In addition to standard skeletal of the cell, DNA containing different genetic analysis, archaeologists can recover nuclear and information can also be found within a cell’s mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from mitochondria. As few as one or as many as artifacts and human remains, locate buried several hundred mitochondria may exist within anomalies with remote sensing technology, and each cell. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is view artifacts spatially and microscopically to solely inherited from one’s mother. Sperm re-create historical events. This volume also contain mitochondria, but only the female’s egg— demonstrates the successful expansion of the with rare exceptions—contributes mitochondria study of old and degraded DNA recovered from to the new individual. Since copies of genetic organic remains and visible stains, familiar to information are stored in each mitochondrion, biological anthropologists as ancient DNA scientists have a better chance of recovering (aDNA), to include studies on DNA recovered intact mtDNA than nuclear DNA with just two from historic period personal artifacts. Julie copies in the nucleus. In consideration of this Schablitsky (this volume) introduces the fact, studies of ancient mtDNA have met with specialization of genetic archaeology, which is greater success, and consequently biological devoted to the recovery and analysis of DNA anthropologists focus their research on the Historical Archaeology, 2006, 40(3):1–7. Permission to reprint required. 2 HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY 40(3) extraction of mtDNA rather than nuclear DNA contaminating artifacts and organic material, it from ancient organics (Herrmann and Hummel is fi rst necessary to anticipate the potential for 1994:3). contaminants at the site. Field personnel should Historical archaeologists have an advantage be taught to identify potential candidates for over their prehistorian colleagues in human DNA testing and how to protect samples from DNA recovery. By defi nition, the material stud- contamination. Since the recovery of DNA ied by historical archaeologists is less ancient, from artifacts is only in its infancy, scientists thereby decreasing the number of times artifacts are continuing to learn the environments, encounter temperature fl uctuations and exposure materials, and contexts that allow DNA to to moisture between the moments of deposition survive in archaeological contexts.