The Analysis of Skeletal Fractures from Windover (8BR246) and Their Inference Regarding Lifestyle

• Other Authors: Smith, Rachel Kathleen (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Anthropology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-1669

The examination of skeletal material in the archaeological record provides information as to the lifestyles of past populations. The analysis of skeletal fractures allows inferences to be made concerning the level of conflict, the types and rates of traumatic injury sustained, and the knowledge and application of care and treatment within a population. The skeletal remains from Windover (8BR246) provide a rare glimpse into the lifestyle of the people of Florida's Archaic period. Dated to over 7,000 BP, the exceptional preservation and broad population profile allow a detailed analysis of some of the earliest remains from North America. This research documents the presence, location, and frequency of skeletal fractures, which provide a mechanism for examining the lifestyle of people living in eastern central Florida, several millennia prior to European contact. What this research shows is a population lacking evidence for frequent conflict, a population exhibiting average accident potentials of adults and low accident potentials of sub-adults, a homogeneous pattern of traumatic injury, and a low occurrence of sub-adult trauma. The high frequency of well aligned, well healed fractures indicate the people of Windover had some knowledge of treatment of injuries and provided care and attention to those sustaining skeletal fractures. === A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Anthropology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science. === Summer Semester, 2003. === July 7, 2003. === Knowledge Of Treatment, Skeletal Fractures === Includes bibliographical references. === Glen H. Doran, Professor Directing Thesis; Rochelle A. Marrinan, Committee Member; Michael W. Warren, Committee Member.