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Thesis
Isotopic Evidence Of Gender?: Using Isotopic Data To Read Gendered Experiences Of Diet At The Classic Maya Site Of Copan, Honduras
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida
2023
Abstract
The field of bioarchaeology utilizes osteological analysis to estimate aspects of identity in past peoples. Bioarchaeology is by design an interdisciplinary field, and as such, successfully integrates various methods and theories to investigate cultural questions of the past. From the methodological – undertaking isotope analyses – to the theoretical – utilizing social and cultural theories of gender –this uses approaches from allied fields to investigate the construction of gender and identity among the ancient Maya. This study involves a biocultural approach, using bioarchaeological data that can help link culturally constructed identities to the physical body through lines of evidence such as stable isotopes (i.e., carbon) obtained via diet, and material culture (i.e., mortuary context and manipulation of the skeletal body such as dental modification) seen among the ancient Copan Maya from the Late Classic period (250–822 A.D.). Through stable isotope analysis of carbon, the dietary profile of the individual will provide evidence to determine if gendered food behavior was present among the ancient people of Copan. Osteological analysis and isotopic analysis are used to understand how sex and gender identity are intersectional and contingent on action and expression of personhood. This thesis finds that gendered manifestations of gender food behavior were not visible isotopically at Copan during the Late Classic period.
Details
- Title
- Isotopic Evidence Of Gender?
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Katherine A Miller Wolf (Committee Chair)Allysha P Winburn (Committee Member)Ramie A Gougeon (Committee Member)Pamela L Geller (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 150
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries by the author to digitize and/or display this information for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires the permission of the copyright holder.
- Identifiers
- 99380461596306600
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology; College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Arts (MA)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), University of West Florida