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R Mayus Masters Thesis.pdf (3.26 MB)

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Constructing Demographic Profiles in Commingled Collections: A Comparison of Methods for Determining Sex and Age-at-Death in a Byzantine Monastic Assemblage

Mayus, Rebecca Claire
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492454624374613

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Arts, Ohio State University, Anthropology.
Though paleodemographic reconstructions form a central pillar of bioarchaeological investigation, much uncertainty still clouds the accurate assignment of biological sex and age-at-death in bioarchaeological contexts. Demographic analyses are particularly difficult in commingled collections, where multiple features cannot be compared within a single skeleton. This research seeks to establish demographic profiles of age and sex in the Byzantine St. Stephen’s collection, a commingled assemblage from a 5th-7th century CE Jerusalem monastery. In addition to addressing issues of demography in commingled collections, the study tests the accuracy of historical records that detail expected sex distribution and average age-at-death at monastic sites. Based on such records, it was hypothesized that the St. Stephen’s collection would contain a high ratio of male to female skeletons, as well as ages that span into the fifth decade of life. Analyses of several sexually dimorphic skeletal features and age indicators in the cranium and os coxae were undertaken, and results from various methods were statistically compared via chi-square and Fisher’s exact analysis. Age-at-death was further visualized using Kaplan-Meier hazard analysis. The results of these analyses indicate tentative support for the hypotheses, though further investigation into the efficacy of techniques should be undertaken to verify the accuracy of the demographic profiles presented here.
Clark Larsen (Advisor)
Mark Hubbe (Committee Member)
Samuel Stout (Committee Member)
131 p.
Archaeology; Physical Anthropology
Paleodemography; Bioarchaeology; Biological Anthropology; Commingling; Byzantine Monasticism

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mayus, R. C. (2017). Constructing Demographic Profiles in Commingled Collections: A Comparison of Methods for Determining Sex and Age-at-Death in a Byzantine Monastic Assemblage [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492454624374613

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mayus, Rebecca. Constructing Demographic Profiles in Commingled Collections: A Comparison of Methods for Determining Sex and Age-at-Death in a Byzantine Monastic Assemblage. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492454624374613.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mayus, Rebecca. "Constructing Demographic Profiles in Commingled Collections: A Comparison of Methods for Determining Sex and Age-at-Death in a Byzantine Monastic Assemblage." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1492454624374613

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1492454624374613
438
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.