This study examines the correlation between site-specific and retrospectively collected temperatu... more This study examines the correlation between site-specific and retrospectively collected temperature data from the National Weather Service (NWS) over an extended time period. Using iButtonLink thermochrons (model DS1921G), hourly temperature readings were collected at 15 sites (1 validation; 14 experimental) from December 2010 to January 2012. Comparison between the site-specific temperature data and data retrieved from an official reporter of NWS temperature data shows statistically significant differences between the two in 71.4% (10/14) of cases. The difference ranged between 0.04 and 2.81°C. Examination of both regression and simple adjustment of the mean difference over extended periods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 9 months) suggests that on the timescale typical in forensic anthropology cases neither method of correction is consistent or reliable and that forensic anthropologists would be better suited using uncorrected NWS temperature data when the postmortem interval is extended.
This paper presents data from a sample of 803 individuals (308 females and 495 males) from the Ha... more This paper presents data from a sample of 803 individuals (308 females and 495 males) from the Hamann-Todd collection testing Dwight's century-old assertion that maximum height of the human scapula can be used for sex estimation-males being larger than 170 mm, females falling below 140 mm. The results of this project show Dwight's method has high accuracy when scapular height falls either above or below the sex specific demarcation points (96.81%), but a vast majority of both males and females fall in between. The overall accuracy of the method is just 29.27%. By empirically demonstrating the limited usefulness of Dwight's technique, the author hopes the rote republication of this method in introductory texts on the subject will cease, and draw attention to the need for multiple methods of sex estimation as a response to the overlap in both size and shape between males and females.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Sep 1, 2011
Using the protocol outlined in The Backbone of History: Health and Nutrition in the Western Hemis... more Using the protocol outlined in The Backbone of History: Health and Nutrition in the Western Hemisphere (BBH) (Steckel and Rose. 2002a. The backbone of history: health and nutrition in the Western Hemisphere. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), this project compares the Mark I Health Index (MIHI) scores of the Ipiutak (n 5 76; 100BCE-500CE) and Tigara (n 5 298; 1200-1700CE), two samples of North American Arctic Eskimos excavated from Point Hope, Alaska. Macroscopic examination of skeletal remains for evidence of anemia, linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH), infection, trauma, dental health, and degenerative joint disease (DJD) was conducted to assess differences in health status resulting from a major economic shift at Point Hope. These data demonstrate that despite differences in settlement pattern, economic system, and die-Additional supporting information may be found in the online version of this article. Grant sponsor: American Museum of Natural History.
Sex determination using the scapula in New Kingdom skeletons from Tell El-Amarna
Homo-journal of Comparative Human Biology, Dec 1, 2010
Both forensic and archaeological sciences use metric analysis of human skeletal remains for sex e... more Both forensic and archaeological sciences use metric analysis of human skeletal remains for sex estimation of unknown individuals. Thomas Dwight first reported the utility of scapula metrics for sex estimation in 1894, and subsequent years have produced several techniques for sex estimation using scapula metrics. Levels of sexual dimorphism vary across time and space, making these methods not universally applicable. Novel discriminant functions for unique populations are thus necessary. The present study establishes metric standards for sex estimation for a New Kingdom Egyptian skeletal sample from Tell El-Amarna using scapular measurements. The sample for this research consists of 27 individuals (14 males; 13 females) whose sex estimate based on pelvic morphology is unambiguous. The five measurements showing the highest degree of sexual dimorphism (p≤0.001) are used in the discriminant functions reported here: maximum length of the scapula, maximum length of the scapular spine, breadth of the infraspinous body, height of the glenoid fossa, and breadth of the glenoid fossa. The overall leave one out, cross-validated accuracy for the five reported discriminant functions ranges from 84.0 to 88.0%; similar to accuracies reported for the femur and humerus. Functions combining multiple variables produce higher accuracies than those based on single measurements. The unique population of Amarna, being comprised of emigrants from throughout Egypt, suggests these discriminant functions will have utility for Amarna period sites across the spatial distances of Egypt, and possibly the temporal range of the New Kingdom as a whole.
1. The North Tombs Cemetery excavations and skeletal analysis" in Barry Kemp (Ed.) Tell el-Amarna, Spring 2017
Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 2017
Bioarchaeology of the Non-elite North Tombs Cemetery at Amarna: A Preliminary Assessment of the Non-elite Individuals of the North Tombs Cemetery at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt
Bioarchaeology international, Dec 23, 2019
This article presents preliminary results of the skeletal analysis of the current excavated sampl... more This article presents preliminary results of the skeletal analysis of the current excavated sample from the 18th Dynasty North Tombs Cemetery (NTC) at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt ( n = 252). Analysis shows the skeletal sample to be demographically restricted, with 93.7% of the sample being 7–25 years old at the time of death. Additionally, the sample is predominantly female, with adult females outnumbering adult males by a margin of 3.2:1. High frequencies of linear enamel hypoplasias (73.2% of individuals) and low adult stature (female mean = 153.3 cm; male mean = 160.8 cm) suggest heavy stressor loads began early in life and were not ameliorated over time. Despite the overall young age of the sample, degenerative joint disease (DJD) is prevalent, with 23.3% of individuals exhibiting DJD in a non-vertebral joint and 14.4% exhibiting bony change in the vertebral column. The youngest examples of DJD manifest in multiple 6–7- year- old individuals. The presence of DJD in the occipital condyles (adults 22.5%; subadults 9.1%) and in the joints of the feet (adults 14.7%; subadults 5.5%) suggest that carrying heavy loads, likely on the head, was a habitual activity. This interpretation is supported by high frequencies of spinal trauma, including compression fractures (adults 31.4%; subadults 15.6%), spondylolysis (adults 6.0%; subadults 2.5%), and Schmorl’s nodes (adults 23.3%; subadults 4.1%). Coupled with the demonstrable lack of care for the dead exhibited in the burial practices, these physical findings suggest the NTC skeletal sample represents an isolated workforce that was likely participating in ancillary activities related to stone quarrying in the desert cliffs surrounding the city. تقدم هذه المقالة النتائج الأولية للتحليل الهيكلي للعينة التي تم حفرها من مقبرة الأسرة الشمالية في مقبرة تال العمارنة في مصر (العدد = 252). يظهر التحليل أن العينة الهيكلية مقيدة ديمغرافيا ، حيث كان 93.7٪ من العينة يتراوح عمرهم بين 7-25 عاما وقت الوفاة. بالإضافة إلى ذلك ، تكون العينة في الغالب من الإناث ، حيث تفوق الإناث البالغات عدد الذكور البالغين بهامش 3.2: 1. ترددات عالية من نقص تنسج المينا الخطي (73.2 ٪ من الأفراد) وارتفاع منخفض للبالغين (متوسط الإناث = 153.3 سم ؛ متوسط الذكر = 160.8 سم) تشير إلى أن أحمال الإجهاد الثقيلة بدأت في وقت مبكر من العمر ولم يتم تحسينها بمرور الوقت. على الرغم من صغر سن العينة ، إلا أن مرض المفاصل التنكسية منتشر ، حيث أظهر 23.3٪ من الأفراد الإصابة بـ DJD في مفصل غير فقري و 14.4٪ أظهروا تغير عظمي في العمود الفقري. أصغر الأمثلة من DJD واضح في الأفراد الذين تتراوح أعمارهم بين 6-7 سنوات. كان وجود DJD في اللقاح القذالي (للبالغين 22.5 ٪ ، والأطفال 9.1 ٪) وفي مفاصل القدمين (للبالغين 14.7 ٪ ، والأطفال 5.5 ٪) تشير إلى أن حمل الأحمال الثقيلة ، من المحتمل أن يكون على رأسه ، كان نشاطا معتادا. يدعم هذا التفسير الترددات العالية للصدمات الشوكية ، بما في ذلك كسور الانضغاط (البالغين 31.4 ٪ ، الأطفال 15.6 ٪) ، انحلال الفقار (للبالغين 6.0 ٪ ، الأطفال 2.5 ٪) ، وعقد Schmorl (البالغين 23.3 ٪ ، الأطفال 4.1 ٪). إلى جانب الافتقار الواضح للعناية بالأموات المعروضة في ممارسات الدفن ، تشير هذه النتائج الجسدية إلى أن عينة الهيكل العظمي NTC تمثل قوة عاملة معزولة من المحتمل أن تشارك في أنشطة مساعدة متعلقة باستخراج الأحجار في المنحدرات الصحراوية المحيطة بالمدينة.
The northern cemeteries: community ties at ancient Amarna
The cemeteries of Amarna: in B. Kemp, 'Tell el-Amarna, 2014-15
Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 2015
Subadult age estimation at Tell-el Amarna: a systematic, site-specific approach
The 81st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Portland, OR, 2012
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Papers by Gretchen Dabbs