Furman Landscapes Archaeological Project: Spring 2022

This project included an archaeological survey by Prof. Andrew Womack and students in ANT-304 Archaeological Methods and Theory in Spring of 2022 on the campus of Furman University. The archaeological survey, located on campus property, exists as part of ongoing research conducted by the “Furman Landscapes Archaeological Project” in order to garner a better understanding of the land-use and occupation history of the current Furman campus. Our focus this season was on the remains of a historic structure visible in aerial photos from the 1940s, but with only a foundation are surrounding debris visible today. Our survey and test excavations of this area allowed us to garner a better understanding of the dating and use of this building, which most likely was occupied from the late 1800s or early 1900s until around 1950. Our research also laid the groundwork for further archaeological investigations in this and other areas of campus

The Enigmatic Origin of Bovine mtDNA Haplogroup R: Sporadic Interbreeding or an Independent Event of Bos primigenius Domestication in Italy?

BACKGROUND: When domestic taurine cattle diffused from the Fertile Crescent, local wild aurochsen (Bos primigenius) were still numerous. Moreover, aurochsen and introduced cattle often coexisted for millennia, thus providing potential conditions not only for spontaneous interbreeding, but also for pastoralists to create secondary domestication centers involving local aurochs populations. Recent mitochondrial genomes analyses revealed that not all modern taurine mtDNAs belong to the shallow macro-haplogroup T of Near Eastern origin, as demonstrated by the detection of three branches (P, Q and R) radiating prior to the T node in the bovine phylogeny. These uncommon haplogroups represent excellent tools to evaluate if sporadic interbreeding or even additional events of cattle domestication occurred. METHODOLOGY: The survey of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control-region variation of 1,747 bovine samples (1,128 new and 619 from previous studies) belonging to 37 European breeds allowed the identification of 16 novel non-T mtDNAs, which after complete genome sequencing were confirmed as members of haplogroups Q and R. These mtDNAs were then integrated in a phylogenetic tree encompassing all available P, Q and R complete mtDNA sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Phylogenetic analyses of 28 mitochondrial genomes belonging to haplogroups P (N = 2), Q (N = 16) and R (N = 10) together with an extensive survey of all previously published mtDNA datasets revealed major similarities between haplogroups Q and T. Therefore, Q most likely represents an additional minor lineage domesticated in the Near East together with the founders of the T subhaplogroups. Whereas, haplogroup R is found, at least for the moment, only in Italy and nowhere else, either in modern or ancient samples, thus supporting an origin from European aurochsen. Haplogroup R could have been acquired through sporadic interbreeding of wild and domestic animals, but our data do not rule out the possibility of a local and secondary event of B. primigenius domestication in Italy

Evaluation of the Islamic World Gallery at the British Museum

The goal of our project was to assess how visitors engaged with the Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic World in the British Museum. The Albukhary Gallery replaced the John Addis Gallery, which presented a narrow view of Islamic culture and attracted few visitors according to previous evaluations. We conducted counting, timing, tracing, and surveying to measure visitor engagement in the new gallery and provide a benchmark for future evaluations. From the heat and trace maps we generated, the newly displayed objects (instruments, clothes, and works on paper) presented high attracting and holding power. We recommended that the British Museum provide detailed descriptions and translations for objects, integrate audio clips for displayed instruments, and make family labels obvious

Rain Gauges to Range Conditions: Collaborative Development of a Drought Information System to Support Local Decision-Making

Drought monitoring and drought planning are complex endeavors. Measures of precipitation or streamflow provide little context for understanding how social and environmental systems impacted by drought are responding. Here the authors report on collaborative work with the Hopi Tribe-a Native American community in the U.S. Southwest-to develop a drought information system that is responsive to local needs. A strategy is presented for developing a system that is based on an assessment of how drought is experienced by Hopi citizens and resource managers, that can incorporate local observations of drought impacts as well as conventional indicators, and that brings together local expertise with conventional science-based observations. The system described here is meant to harness as much available information as possible to inform tribal resource managers, political leaders, and citizens about drought conditions and to also engage these local drought stakeholders in observing, thinking about, and helping to guide planning for drought.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Program Office from the Regional Integrated Science and Assessment program [NA13OAR4310166]; Sectoral Applications Research Program [NA10OAR4310183]Published Online: 18 August 2016; 6 month embargoThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Rain Gauges to Range Conditions: Collaborative Development of a Drought Information System to Support Local Decision-Making

Drought monitoring and drought planning are complex endeavors. Measures of precipitation or streamflow provide little context for understanding how social and environmental systems impacted by drought are responding. Here the authors report on collaborative work with the Hopi Tribe-a Native American community in the U.S. Southwest-to develop a drought information system that is responsive to local needs. A strategy is presented for developing a system that is based on an assessment of how drought is experienced by Hopi citizens and resource managers, that can incorporate local observations of drought impacts as well as conventional indicators, and that brings together local expertise with conventional science-based observations. The system described here is meant to harness as much available information as possible to inform tribal resource managers, political leaders, and citizens about drought conditions and to also engage these local drought stakeholders in observing, thinking about, and helping to guide planning for drought.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Program Office from the Regional Integrated Science and Assessment program [NA13OAR4310166]; Sectoral Applications Research Program [NA10OAR4310183]Published Online: 18 August 2016; 6 month embargoThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Civility, gender and the law: critical reflections on the judgments in Monis v The Queen

Law sets the bounds of civility within any given society. Setting those bounds so as to reflect evolving community expectations and understandings requires frank, open and inclusive discussion. Through an analysis of the male and female judgments in the recent High Court decision of Monis v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 92, this article exposes a worrying, uncritical endorsement of incivility in public and political discourse that may undermine the inclusivity and therefore value of this discussion. The case provides an opportunity for reflection on the nature of political discourse within the Australian system and more particularly on the role of gender in setting the standards of that discourse.Gabrielle Appleby & Ngaire Naffin