Honors Projects for Anthropology

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THE POWER OF CLOTHES: MATERIAL CULTURE EXCHANGE DURING THE KINGDOM OF HAWAIʻI
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2024) Spincola, Amanda; Speetjens, Maile; Anthropology
Iron Age Scythian Women and Warfare: The “Real” Amazon Warriors?
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2018) Burden, Jessica; Beaule, Christine; Anthropology
The Greeks of antiquity spoke extensively of a race of warrior women known as the Amazons. These women were recorded as having close ties to Iron Age Scythia, a region populated by pastoral nomads and known as the western Eurasian steppe north of the Blac
The potential for insular dwarfism in Homo floresiensis
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014) Coley, Avalon; Bae, Christopher; Anthropology
About a decade ago, members of the paleoanthropological community first announced the unique discovery of what appeared to be a new species of Homo. Unearthed in the Liang Bua caves of the island of Flores, Indonesia (see Fig. 1), the assemblage consisted of remains from an estimated nine to 14 individual hominins, as well as associated faunal remains and stone tools (Aiello 2010). Designated since their discovery as the new taxon Homo floresiensis, the hominins are represented by the type specimen Liang Bua 1 (LB1; see Fig. 2). LB1 is extremely small, with an endocranial volume of roughly 380 to 426 cc and an estimated height of 106 cm (Brown et al 2004). Given the relatively recent dates for the skeletal remains (spanning between roughly 95 and 18 kya, with LB1 dated to the more recent time) (Brown et al 2004), the diminutive form of these creatures has caused debate over their evolutionary origins. At present, there are two primary hypotheses that have been proposed toexplain Homo floresiensis' origins. The first theory was initially mentioned by the discovery team, and proposes that H. floresiensis represents an insularly dwarfed population (Brown et al 2004). Scholars who share this view can sometimes be subdivided between those who believe H. floresiensis descended from Homo erectus (Brown et al 2004, Kaifu et al 2011, Lyras et al 2008) and those who support a pre-Homo erectus lineage (Argue et al 2009, Baab and McNulty 2009, Martinez and Hamsici 2008). The second hypothesis suggests that H. floresiensis exemplifies a population of dwarfed, pathological modern Homo sapiens (Aiello 2010). This hypothesis has seen numerous pathologies proposed over the years, including microcephaly, Laron syndrome, and myxoedematous (ME) endemic cretinism (Hershkovitz et al 2007, Obendorf et al 2008, Vannucci et al 2011). Palaeoanthropologists continue to debate their positions.
The Children of Rice Farmers: A Bioarchaeological Analysis of Subadult Oral Health in the Southeast Asian Neolithic
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2015-05) McDougle, Alexandra; Pietrusewsky, Michael; Anthropology
Neolithic Southeast Asian health is of bioarchaeological significance given it’s enigmatic status in light of known trends regarding population health and the introduction of agriculture. This study uses a small archaeological sample of skeletons from the Northern Philippines as a case study to demonstrate the potential for using subadult osteological samples as a means for better understanding the relationship between population health and subsistence in Southeast Asia. This skeletal sample primarily consists of the dental remains of 15 individuals ranging in age from neonate to 2 years at the time of death. Observations of dental caries, dental defects, trauma, and paleopathology were recorded in these skeletons. This study demonstrates the enormous potential of focusing on Southeast Asia for contextualizing our understanding of trends in “Global” health, as well as the importance of including subadult remains in reconstructing population health. The culmination of my literature review as well as the results from the 2014 Ifugao Archaeological Project, support the enigmatic nature of trends in Neolithic Southeast Asian health. This research can be used as a stepping-stone for future studies in understanding the complexities of population health and subsistence patterns.
The Human Terrain System in Afghanistan: Success or Failure?
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2015-05) Chee, Jodi; Aoude, Ibrahim; Anthropology
In reaction to the attack America experienced on September 11, 2001, the Bush Administration launched a worldwide War on Terrorism, prompting the Department of Defense to establish the Human Terrain System (HTS) in 2006. However, in 2008, the American Anthropological Association (AAA) and its ad hoc committee, the Commission on the Engagement of Anthropology with the U.S. Security and Intelligence Communities (CEUSSIC) deemed the HTS operation as unethical for embedding anthropologists with armed military forces in order to gain access to communities within Afghanistan. This research project will investigate the HTS component of the military’s mission in terms of its use of anthropologists with a comprehensive analyses of: (1) the U.S. Army’s Field Manual 3-24 on counterinsurgency and how its mission transforms into ethnocentrism; and (2) the use of Edward Said’s theory of Orientalism to understand why the HTS operation has been unsuccessful with regard to the utilization of anthropologists within the U.S. military’s occupation in Afghanistan. I will then use the evolution of the Taliban and Jihadi groups and how their mission translates into a demonstration of their political power to further substantiate the HTS’ unsuccessfulness. My research project is essential to the community of aspiring anthropologists interested in joining the U.S. Army’s HTS in order to determine whether their “moral duty” undermines the “ethical responsibilities” outlined by AAA.
Dead Men Tell All Tales
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-09-26) Diamond, Shayna; Beaule, Christine; Anthropology
Human remains and the ways in which they're handled and depicted reflect one of the most universal topics of all time – death. However, while such funerary rites are practiced universally, the rites and customs can vary greatly within individual societies. It was the strong similarities in funerary rites of Viking and Aztec warriors which spurred the interest for this paper. Utilizing the interdisciplinary techniques of archaeology and literary analysis, this paper observes inner and cross-cultural comparisons of Viking and Aztec funerals and their warrior cultures. Funerals are significant not simply on an emotional level but because one of the main ways in which we can interpret past societies is through recovering and analyzing the material traces of the practices associated with the remains of their dead. The very act of a burial provides archaeologists with a wide variety of potential information about the social contexts of these past funerary practices. Burial is thus a deeply significant act imbued with meaning. It represents one of the most formal and carefully prepared deposits that archaeologists encounter. Analyzing the cultural literature provides invaluable insight into the societal thinking and reasoning that can't always be seen through material remains alone. The literary depictions of these funerary events reflect individual and social views on societal boundaries and order, death and the afterlife, and human nature. When this analysis of ancient literature is combined and backed with archaeological evidence, we receive a rare opportunity to understand this sensitive topic.
Ancestry Determination from the Cranial Base Angle
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Wiegand, Jane; Anthropology
The forensic identification of a set of human remains begins by creating a biological profile. A biological profile is an estimation of sex, age-at-death, stature and ancestry of the individual. This study analyzes the cranial base angle, located at the base of the skull, to address the question of ancestry. The midface region of the skull is most popularly used for ancestry determination, though it is made of fragile bone and is often not intact in archaeological settings. To most accurately determine ancestry from skeletal features of the midface a whole intact skull is required. Needing a whole skull makes it challenging to accurately determine ancestry from fragmented remains. The correct identification of an individual based on skeletal remains is dependent on all of the information gathered from the remains, ancestry included. This study of the cranial base angle was performed to demonstrate the cranial base’s potential to be an alternative region to the midface for ancestry determination. To perform this study a sample of crania was digitized with the assistance of the JPAC-CIL staff and facility under the mentorship of forensic anthropologist Dr. Joseph T. Hefner. A digitizer was used to gather 3D (X,Y,Z) coordinate data of cranial landmarks. The coordinate data was used to calculate the degree of the angle as well as look at the variation between represented ancestry groups. Further study of the cranial base has the potential to greatly improve ancestry determination, and identification, of fragmented skeletal remains.
Bridging The Gap At The USS Arizona Memorial: The Juxtaposition Of Submerged Resource Preservation And Cultural Interpretation
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Vandor, Jacob; van Tilburg, Hans; Anthropology
It is the goal of this paper to examine how the Arizona came to function as the iconic monument visitors are so familiar with now. From her launching as another ship of the line to her sinking and the terrible loss of life that occurred at Pearl Harbor to the construction of a monument and establishment of a National Park Service (NPS) management methodology that includes regular underwater archaeological survey and mapping. This paper is specifically concerned with the juxtaposition of submerged cultural resource preservation and the evolution of the USS Arizona Memorial as a cultural site through time.
A Quest for Kahikoleihonua - A Comparatively Analysis of Three Major Petroglyph Sites on the Island of Hawaii
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Ho, J. Mikilani; Anthropology
This paper is a comparative study of the three major petroglyph sites on the island of Hawaii: Puako, Anaehoomalu, and Puuloa. The comparisons are based on the following components: typology, patterns, variations, associated relationships, techniques (where discernible), and context. The purpose of the study is to test two hypotheses. First, what regional similarities or differneces occur in petroglyph typology, and second, what would these similarities or differneces suggest toward the evolution and decline of petroglyphs in form and function within the aboriginal society.
The Concept of Multiple Ethnicity: Hawaiian and American
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Johnson, June; Anthropology
In recent years, social scientists in America have concerned themselves with a phenomenon termed "the ethnic revival," or "the new ethnicity." In some instances, it is described as if it were the most important social re examination of the "melting-pot" (Novak 1980 : 776) , while in other instances it is seen as nothing more than a "fad, like j ogging" (Thern:strom 1980 : 85) . Over the years , ethnicity has been a topic that has been written about until it has been driven into the ground. Is this "ethnic revival" just another re-write? Or does it hold new insight concerning the distinction between American identity and ethnic identity?
More than Just a Bed for the Night: An Ethnography on the Homeless of Aala Park
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Jordan, Nancy; Anthropology
Homelessness is an issue very disturbing to the majority of middle class people today. It has become one of the most pressing social problems of American society. Though it is becoming worse each year, there seems to be no real solution in sight.
An Archaeological Study of Ancient Beads from Cambodia
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Hammerle, Esme; Stark, Miriam; Anthropology
Artifacts from cemeteries are important tools for the study of ancient cultures. This is particularly true for periods prior to written records. This research focuses on a sample of artifacts from the Vat Komnou Cemetery, Angkor Borei, Takeo Province, Cambodia that is located in the Mekong Delta The site's occupational sequence ranges from 500 BC to AD 500 . Historians hypothesize, using ancient Chinese documents, which stated that this site was an inland capital of the kingdom ofFunan, which interacted in an extensive sea-trading network expanding from India to China. To address questions about organizational change, which took place in Southeast Asia due to processes oflndianization, I will examine a collection of beads in order to make inferences about trade. The assemblage from Vat Komnou is a significant assemblage because it is presently the largest and best provenienced collection of beads from Southeast Asia. For this research more than 1600 beads from Angkor Borei were processed and documented I also provide background information on the region including, prior research, trading networks, and cultural practices. Most of my energy is focused on describing the bead assemblage. I will complete a database that includes all the compositional information on the beads to investigate whether variation in the bead assemblage reflects organizational change.
A preliminary Look at Moanalua Cave (Site 0-15)
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Beck, Juanita; Anthropology
This research project is in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors and its main goal was to synthesize field records from the 1 9 8 0 excavations of Moanalua Cave (Site 0-15). Moanalua Cave is located in an intermediate position between the coastal lowlands and the uplands of Kamana-nui Valley of central Oahu. The site was first excavated by the Bishop Museum in 1964, and later by the UH-Manoa Archaeological Field School in 1980. Although excavations and record keeping at the site were exceptionally detailed, a final report was never produced for the UH-Manoa fieldwork. However, several analyses of the archaeological assemblages were undertaken by archaeology students at the university, under the direction of Dr. Matthew Spriggs (formerly at UH). This thesis provides a preliminary summary of the field records and artifact collections from this site. In addition to providing an account of the field project and the laboratory analyses, this honors project acquired the first radiocarbon date for this site. The radiocarbon date was acquired from wood charcoal that was identified to the species of Lagenaria siceraria, commonly known by its Hawaiian name as Ipu, a gourd plant. In addition to assessing the relevance of this date to Hawaiian archaeology, I will suggest several directions for future archaeological research on the collection from Moanalua cave site.
A Critical Analysis of Dengue Fever in Hawaii
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Uniatowski, Justin; Anthropology
WhileDengue fever has been present throughout the world for centuries, its potential impact as a public health crisis is still emerging.Dengue (DENV) is an arbovirus, of the genus Flavivirus, transmitted to humans by female Aedes mosquitoes. It has been suggested that the earliest account of dengue infection occurred in China dating back to 992 A.D. [ 1]. The first documented cases of dengue in the Pacific region occurred during the early 20th century. About the time of World War II, DENV outbreaks were present throughout Southeast Asia and spread to many islands in the Pacific, including Hawai'i. With the aid of globalization during this time,DENV could now be transported through infected people to other regions of the world in a matter of days, even hours. Due to the incubation period from the time of infection to clinical symptoms (from 3 to 14 days), individuals were not immediately aware that they were infected. Thus, worldwide travel provided a mechanism for rapid dissemination of the virus.DENV-1 phylogenie analysis has illustrated gene envelope relations, which help to illustrate their origins and spread patterns. My research has focused on the origins, vectors of transmission, and control of spread that were involved in the Hawaiian outbreaks of dengue fever. Based on historical evidence, information was compiled to recount past dengue outbreaks in Hawai'i through both an etic and ernie point of view.
Learning How to Learn: The Impact of Culture on Learning
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Tillich, Terry; Anthropology
Primate species have a long period of infantile dependency, and the majority of their behavior is learned through interaction with others of their species rather than being instinctual. In a social context, primates learn how and what to eat, proper sexual behavior, and communication skills, among the most basic of survival techniques. Without this long period of socialization, the individual primate is not adequately equipped to survive in his environment. Among the primate species, Homo sapiens has the longest period of infantile dependency and also the most complex and elaborate range of behavior.
Japan and the Environment: A Perspective Through Cultural Contexts
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Sumiye, Jason; Anthropology
Throughout the history of the human species, culture and the environment have met with varied results. For example, the United States, with its tradition as an ecological pioneer, has been denuding the biosphere for decades. On the other hand, the Yanomamo Indians, living on the border between Venezuela and Brazil, have learned great respect for the rainforest. Over the centuries, they have learned to utilize the rainforest's resources in a sustainable, almost symbiotic manner, proving that this interface can be serendipitous too. It seems that in every environmental niche, human beings have had an almost inexorable capability to alter the ecosystems of the Earth- both locally and in many cases, globally. These interactions between humans and the environment are commonly known as cultural ecology.
An Analysis of Ceramic Vessel Forms from the Vat Komnou Cemetery at Angkor Borei, Mekong River Delta, Southern Cambodia
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Yoshida, Hirosato; Anthropology
Southeast Asia witnessed the rise of some of the most remarkable early states in the ancient world. In this honors thesis I outline an analysis of ceramics from the ancient site of Angkor Borei in southern Cambodia. This analysis was undertaken to document networks of social and economic interaction among cultural groups in Southeast Asia between500 BCE to 500 CE. Toward this end, I examined and classified ceramics that were excavated by the University of Hawaii from Vat Komnou mortuary during field seasons in 1999 and 2000. To put the findings of Vat Komnou in a broader regional context, I compared them to ceramic vessel assemblages that have been studied at six other sites by other scholars: Ban Chiang Hian, Ban Don Ta Phet, Ban Wang Hi, Chansen, Oc Eo, and Tra Kieu. My comparative analysis confirmed that vessels from some of these sites were remarkably similar in shape to those that were excavated at Vat Komnou. On the basis of this fmding, I argue that there had been a significant degree of interaction between the residents of Angkor Borei and their neighbors in surrounding societies.
Early Evidence for Fijian Cannibalism? Refining the Methods for Identifying Cannibalism in the Archaeological Record
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Rieth, Timothy; Anthropology
Cannibalism has been, and remains, a controversial topic. Despite the fact that thousands of species (Crump 1 99 1 ; Dong and Polis 1 992; Elgar and Crespi 1 992), including our closest genetic relative the chimpanzee, have been documented committing cannibalistic acts (Nishida and Kawanaka 1985; Norikoshi 1982), the assertion that cannibalism has occurred among human groups often sparks a heated debate. Archaeology has become an arena for these debates. The contentious nature of this topic requires a strict analytic method to identify and document evidence for cannibalism in the archaeological record. In this paper, I have focused on refining the methods used for identifying the archaeological evidence ofcannibalism. Human skeletal remains excavated from Olo, site Y2-25, Waya Island, Fiji were examined as a case study.
Blood Pressure Patterns and Hypertension in Blacks versus Whites
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2014-01-15) Barroga, Deno; Anthropology
Approximately 60 million Americans have blood pressures high enough to be considered dangerous to their health and as many as 800,000 premature deaths per year can be attributed to hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure (Mangrulkar, 208). Yet, hypertension often goes unnoticed and unchecked until revealed by a medical emergency. Hypertension is generally defined as a chronic diastolic blood pressure of greater than 90 mm Hg. However, if a person has less than a 90 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure but a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or more, then he or she is still considered to have systolic hypertension (JNCH, 460). Additionally, young individuals below the age of 25 with blood pressures under these values may still be considered hypertensive.
Got Aloha? The State’s Use of Aloha in Hawai`i
(University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2010-07-30) Sakado, Katherine; Johnson, David
The traditional Hawaiian value of “aloha” is a concept adopted and continuously used by the state of Hawai`i to express the “spirit” of the state. This is evident in the rhetorical use of “aloha” as an ideal, as well as the legislative use of it as a state value. The Aloha Spirit Law (HRS § 5-7.5 ) advises all government officials to act in consideration of aloha as interpreted by the state to ultimately mean “mutual regard and affection.” To what extent are the state’s actions and the outcomes of those actions consistent with this interpretation of “aloha”? To determine the extent to which aloha is realized by the state, Hawaii’s statistics on the treatment of minority subcultures will be compared to national statistics and measured by inequality indexes. In many cases, including in the treatment of the homeless, the prison population, and public school education, Hawaii’s actions and lack of actions may create unequal economic, social, and racial well-being among certain populations. By adopting “aloha,” the state uses aloha to characterize and even legitimize state actions, whether or not they adhere to the concept. It can be argued that the continuous affirmation of aloha masks the many policies that are anything but aloha. This has important implications if indeed the state has a duty to fulfill its explicitly stated ethical standard of conduct.

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