Anthropology electronic theses and dissertations (MU)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Anthropology. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Columbia. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item Hopi silversmithing(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1968) Mori, John LouisHopi silversmithing is discussed by noting its historical development and present status. A detailed description of the technology of the craft is given. The economics of the craft and the form and design of the jewelry is analyzed, contrasting the two major producers. Analysis of production draws upon Systems Theory to illucidate the function and structure of the units in relation to the craft. Chapters on Indian silverworking in the United States, the current situation in the Southwest, and a brief description of the Hopi are included.Item Pompeii and the Aqua Augusta : a multiscalar GIS approach to understanding urban water use in the Roman period(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Totsch, Jessica Nicole Bernstetter; VanPool, Todd[EMBARGOED UNTIL 12/01/2026] The remarkable preservation at the archaeological site of Pompeii provides unparalleled opportunities for examining urban infrastructure and hydraulic engineering in the ancient Roman world. The installation of the Aqua Augusta aqueduct between 30 and 20 BCE increased the volume of water available to the city, but access to water only nominally improved as public works like fountains were not evenly distributed across the site. This dissertation explores the relationship between water accessibility and urban environment in Roman-period Pompeii, employing an interdisciplinary approach, integrating archaeological data, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), topography, and hydrology to assess urban planning decisions and the spatial distribution of water resources. First, I synthesized models presented in the literature that hypothesize the location of lead pipes that carried water across Pompeii. Second, I propose my own model of the water-supply system using GIS and Least-Cost Path analysis to account for how variables like elevation and topography impact the gravity-fed water system. Finally, I examined the density and distribution of public water fountains using a combination of GIS techniques (spatial autocorrelation, Thiessen polygon analysis, and spatial buffering) to determine the accessibility of public water and its potential limitations. The results of this study detail the structure and physical efficiency of Pompeii's water-supply system, contributing to our knowledge of infrastructure and hydraulic engineering in the Roman world and potentially providing insights for water resource management in the face of modern environmental challenges.Item Uncovering the bias : the impact of section 106 compliance on archaeological practice and preservation within Missouri(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Morin, Jeremy Michael; VanPool, ToddThis thesis examines the systemic biases embedded within the Section 106 compliance process of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and their influence on archaeological practice and cultural preservation in Missouri. Section 106 mandates that federally funded or permitted projects consider the impact on historic properties, and while this process has significantly contributed to understanding Missouri's archaeological record, it is not without flaws. The research identifies three major forms of bias--agency/client bias, cultural bias, and public input bias--that shape what is discovered, preserved, or neglected. Compliance driven efforts that include development-driven priorities, regulatory loopholes (e.g., Appendix C issued by the US Army Corps of Engineers), and expedited review processes (such as those under emergency declarations) often fail to provide the comprehensive preservation that the Section 106 process is designed to facilitate. Moreover, archaeological investigations disproportionately concentrate on urban or high-population areas, leaving rural and less-developed regions underrepresented. Cultural resources significant to Indigenous or marginalized communities may be undervalued due to cultural assumptions or limited consultation. Here I argue that these patterns distort our understanding of the past and perpetuate inequities in preservation. Through case studies, data analysis, and a critique of current practices, I advocate for policy reforms, broader data accessibility, improved collaboration with Indigenous groups, and the use of predictive modeling and long-term monitoring to address Section 106 bias. While the focus is on Missouri, the implications are national in scope, revealing how preservation policy can either reinforce or resist broader social inequities.Item The role of experiential archaeology in elementary-age education and outreach(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2025) Ferguson, Louden; Ferguson, JeffreyExperiential learning is commonly held as an effective method in archaeology education as well as in education more broadly. Despite this, little in the way of specific research methodologies or quantitative data has been established on the topic. This study focuses on the data provided by a pilot study on the effects of experiential learning in archaeology. A 2nd-3rd grade cohort at an elementary school in Columbia, MO was given a presentation with an experiential activity, as well as a questionnaire designed to gather quantitative data on interest, excitement, and memory retention. These data were analyzed, revealing a positive effect of experiential learning on these categories. Additionally, this study provides a possible template for further studies to explore with larger bodies of participants and longer timescales.Item Analysis of a scale for measuring the life satisfaction of the aged(University of Missouri--Columbia, 1969) Adams, David L."Introduction to the problem: One of the criticisms of the social sciences which has been discussed by social investigators and others at the theoretical level has to do with the relatively vague nature of behavioral concepts compared with the rather precise and quantitative concepts of the physical sciences. One answer to this criticism has been the recognition that the social sciences are still quite young and cannot as yet be expected to have developed precise conceptual definitions. Further, due to the nature of their subject matter, perhaps they can never be expected to attain the conceptual precision of the physical sciences. A polar position to this has been taken which strongly defends the need for consistent operational definitions of concepts--be they quantitatively or qualitatively based. This is not to imply that the definitions be assigned once and for all. Rather it means that standard definitions, which can be expected to improve with continued use and analyses, be applied to concepts and be used as consistently as possible. The latter position is taken in the present study. If a multiplicity of meanings and uses for a single term, or a multiplicity of terms being applied to a single concept is to be avoided, then some consistency in the use of concepts in the social sciences must be attained. The purpose of this paper is to examine one of the operational measures currently used to refer to one of the concepts in social gerontology, in an attempt to determine its reliability and in the hope of suggesting ways of improving it. The phenomenon or concept is the satisfaction of older people with their current and past lives, and has been termed by various researchers, individual or personal adjustment, successful aging, happiness, morale, and life satisfaction. This concept is inherent in a number of theories of successful aging and to this extent, it is important that some satisfactory method be developed for determining or measuring it."--Page 1.