Compass (Journal)
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Gender Identity and Mortuary Analysis in Prehistory: Challenging the Heteronormative Complex
No full textThe social-constructionist understanding of gender as the cultural elaboration of sex has been criticized by third-wave feminists for its propensity to essentialize gender and its adherence to a binary, two sex/two gender model. Despite challenges to this hegemonic stance, gender archaeology has yet to become an integral and assumed part of archaeology’s foundational principles and remains at the periphery of disciplinary research. As such, the assumption that this heteronormative framework is both universal and natural remains well entrenched in archaeological mortuary analysis. It is the goal here to deconstruct this familiar and comfortable paradigm and expose the presentism that perpetuates it. As prehistoric graves pose the greatest challenge in assigning gender identities, lacking written documentation and cultural narratives that aid interpretation, the focus here will be to address the challenges of decrypting gender identities in a prehistoric context.
Dietary and Social Stratification: An Anthropological Perspective
No full textThe number of articles dedicated to dietary and social stratification today is relatively small, and those that exist are often based on quantitative statistics rather than direct observations and narratives of people. This article aims to describe and analyze these phenomena, revealing the often invisible and nuanced social stratifications and definitions. This article uses phenomenological interpretation and analysis, providing an arrative overview of people’s choices and needs regarding their diets. Although diet continues to be influenced by social stratification, this influence is gradually diminishing, eliminating the monopoly of the upper stratum. While this article is primarily a phenomenological exposition, it argues that the relationship between dietary and social stratification is not unidirectional and proportional but rather influenced through multiple connections
From Wildcat, to Farm-hand, to Deity, to Laser Chaser: A Look at the Domestic House Cat
No full textThis paper examines the journey of the domestic house cat, from its wild origins to its current status as a beloved companion. By delving into domestication, morphology, global dispersal, and cultural significance, the paper sheds light on the intricate relationship between humans and cats throughout history. The research explores the domestication timeline, highlighting key findings such as discovering ancient cat burials in Cyprus and Egypt and identifying the wildcat species Felis silvestris lybica as the ancestor of modern domestic cats. Additionally, it discusses the challenges researchers face in distinguishing between wild, feral, and domestic cat remains due to their similar genetic makeup and limited morphological changes over time. Furthermore, the paper investigates the role of cats in ancient societies, emphasizing their significance as symbols of divinity in ancient Egypt and their use in pest control during the Roman Iron Age. It also examines recent technological advancements, such as medical imaging, which have facilitated the study of cat mummies and provided insights into ancient mummification practices. Overall, researchers comprehensively explore the domestication, cultural significance, and morphological evolution of the domestic house cat, highlighting its enduring importance in human society
In Ice and Skin: Inuit Kakiniit Birth, Death, and Revival in a Modern Post-Colonial and Politicized Arctic
No full textThis paper delves into the profound history of traditional Inuit tattooing practices known as kakiniit against the backdrop of a post-colonial and highly politicized Arctic landscape. The story of the birth, death, and revival of kakiniit is amidst many traces of Indigenous resilience and transformation following rapid socio-cultural changes within communities during assimilatory efforts. Highlighting the narrative perspectives surrounding the birth of kakiniit, this paper serves the history of the artistic storytelling model and form of cultural expression through Inuit cosmologies and ontologies and revisits sites of its cultural preservation and revitalization, interrogating lingering assimilatory perspectives within the Arctic wherein colonial impositions intersect with Indigenous agency. Through the study of ethnographic narratives across age groups and geographies and engagement with contemporary resurgence efforts, this essay illuminates the deep-rooted complexity and dynamic adaptation of kakiniit throughout the ages, navigating its creation, temporary expulsion from Inuit culture and its revival and repurposing as a widely used historical recognition and cultural reclamation practice across Indigenous cultures in the Arctic as an adaptive expression of cultural continuity and resistance in the face of ongoing colonialist ideals
The Mosaic Nature of H. naledi: Behavioural and Evolutionary Speculations
No full textHomo naledi (“Star Man”) holds a fascinating morphology of primitive and derived traits, and offers more questions than answers as to their true functions. In this paper, I will attempt to discern some answers by first describing H. naledi’s outstanding morphological traits with merit to the researchers who found the specimens, as well as discuss its overarching significance in the field of palaeoanthropology. I will then investigate the theories regarding H. naledi’s behavior dissected through comparisons with other hominins, such as contemporary archaic Homo members, argue for a semi-rock climbing morphology rather than semi-arboreal, provide evidence for a possible one million year old stasis through the lenses of neurobiology and ecology, and finally question how these attributed to this species’ extinction. Although a large portion of this paper is theoretical, it nonetheless stems from evidence directly corresponding to the remains of H. naledi
Interpreting Stains: Determining the Possibility Post-Mortem Interval Estimation through the Interpretation of Skeletal Taphonomic Discoloration
No full textWithin the field of forensic anthropology, a primary goal for investigators is the estimation of a decedent’s post-mortem interval (PMI). Given its importance, numerous unique techniques exist to aid in accurate and precise PMI determinations. However, very few of these methods thoroughly account for the timeline upon which osteologic material becomes stained by its depositional environment. The organic structure of bone allows for a unique pattern of discolouration, but it can be difficult to interpret these properly. In order to discuss the widest array of discolouring factors, the following comprises results from varied individual studies, with the specifics of each process briefly described in order to present a wider overview of each factor. Four key headings allow an organized approach to the material—(i) Soil Contents, (ii) Atmospheric Processes, (iii) Human Traces, and (iv) Nefarious Acts—with each heading discussing three common sub-discolourants. Stains arise either by natural or nefarious means, varying drastically by geographical location and climate, producing a range of observable results. The analysis concludes with an integrated discussion of the factors detailed herein, to ultimately evaluate the question of whether or not discolouration can be utilized as a reliable PMI-estimation methodology.
The Canine Surrogacy Approach: Applications for Studying North American Pre-Colonial Diets
No full textStudying human diets through isotopic signatures can come with multiple challenges, primarily the availability and feasibility of utilizing human tissues, such as bone, teeth, hair, or coprolites. This may be due to preservation issues, the destructive nature of the analysis, ethics, or legislature. To mitigate these issues, it has become increasingly popular for researchers to utilize tissues from animals. In order for this method to be used successfully, an animal that would have consumed a diet similar to that of its human companions must be utilized. Due to the close relationship between humans and dogs in many past cultures worldwide, a method called the Canine Surrogacy Approach (CSA) has proved successful in many regions where dogs were known to have subsisted on human foods. This method is useful for colonized regions, as the archaeological remains of Indigenous people are often only subjected to bioarchaeological analysis if descendant groups grant explicit permission. This paper highlights and discusses the usefulness of this method in North America with reference to ethnographic and ethnohistoric accounts of dog provisioning. Three case studies are presented, which exhibit the applications of the CSA in different regions of the United States and Canada. Each case study approaches the CSA in different ways, showcasing the various applications of this method utilizing a variety of bioarchaeological remains. In closing, the usefulness of applying the CSA method in future studies of the dispersal of maize in the period before colonization in Canada is emphasized.
Applications of Black Bone Disease in Forensic Anthropology: Using a Dark Side Effect to Shed Light
No full textBlack bone disease can result from using a tetracycline-based prescription drug. In life, it is a cosmetic side effect that affects approximately 4% of users and often goes unnoticed unless it presents in teeth. This raises the important question of whether the presentation of black bone disease will impact forensic anthropologists conducting an investigation. In this paper, the presence of tetracycline staining is explored to examine how this information can be used in tandem with the well-researched development of tetracycline staining in teeth to determine if an individual was using tetracycline—or one of its derivatives—and how we can appropriately use that information to corroborate a positive identification of a deceased individual
Cold Temperatures and Weather Processes on Human Bone: An Analysis of the Literature
No full textAmongst research on forensic skeletal material found in a variety of environmental conditions, cold climate contexts and the effects of various associated weather processes are very under-researched. This paper will examine existing sources on the effects of cold and freezing weather conditions on forensic anthropology analyses. It will review the various taphonomic processes that occur from sub-zero temperatures, like snow, ice, and freeze-thaw cycles on bone, as well as the associated challenges that could arise in identifying important features and analyzing skeletal remains when found in these conditions. Finally, this paper will discuss the research gap of the effects of cold weather climates on bone and will explore some much-needed new and expanding avenues of research on this topic, which could aid forensic identifications and analyses on human remains in cold climates