The focus of this dissertation is to understand the lived experiences of individuals interred in the Migration Period (4th-7th century AD) cemetery at Plinkaigalis, Lithuania, through integrated analyses of stable isotope, statistical and spatial methods to assess 253 human bone/tooth samples. Isotopic analysis included assessments of stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen stable isotope values. Statistical analysis included a MANOVA (Multivariate Analysis of Variance) test. Spatial methods included buffers, kernel density, spatial statistics (Moran's I, Mean Center and Standard Distance), Thiessen polygons, and interpolation techniques.
The stable isotope analyses indicates a homogenous C3 diet with small variations across age, sex and status groupings. The spatial analysis aided in investigating the cemeteries' geographical location. Burials were noted to vary in terms of location based on age and biological sex and clustering was noted in higher status burials. While spatial statistics suggest spatial autocorrelation of stable isotope values is significant in some distributions, statistically, there were no significant differences. The use of the cemetery over time was also modeled. Microscapes and a multi-method approach were also shown to be useful in terms of visualizing isoscapes in a multivariate format and when assessing isotopically homogenous samples respectively. This research is of importance as it contributes dietary, cultural and movement related information about the Migration period in Lithuania and expands on the concepts of isoscapes (via introduction of microscapes) and Social Bioarchaeology.
Outline of Studies:
Major: Anthropology
Educational Career:
B.A., 2016, University of North Texas
M.A., 2019, University of Central Florida
Committee in Charge:
Dr. Tosha Dupras, Chair
Dr. Scott Branting
Dr. Rimantas Jankauskas
Dr. Emily Zavodny
Dr. John Schultz
Approved for distribution by Tosha Dupras, Committee Chair, on March 17, 2023.
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