Anthropology & Forensic Science
Isabella Thomson, isabella.thomson@unh.edu
University of New Hampshire, with Dr. Amy Michael and Dr. Jack Biggs
Anthropology
"Investigating the History and Origin of an Altered Human Femur."
A human femur that was notched and painted post-mortem was accepted by the former NH State Archaeologist and is now housed at the University of New Hampshire. The femur closely resembles a form of indigenous cultural artifact known as a “bone rattle.” The person who surrendered the femur to the former NH State Archaeologist claimed it was used for ritual purposes by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. If this is the case, it would be more suggestive of a history involving dark tourism and appropriation than an authentic cultural artifact. With the assistance of Dr. Amy Michael, Professor Jack Biggs, current NH State Archaeologist Mark Doperalski, the UNH Instrumentation Center, and various on and off campus entities, research will be done on the femur to answer multiple questions. How old is the femur? Where did it come from? Is the individual of indigenous origin? If not, where did they originate from? Why was the femur altered and by whom? These questions are being explored through a variety of methods, including the creation of a biological profile and the use of X-ray microscopy, radiocarbon dating, a confocal microscope, and paint analysis, along with numerous other potential analyses. This is done with the hope of discovering the most likely origin and backstory of this femur so that the remains can be repatriated and reburied.
Lonni Garcia, lgarcia125@mail.stmarytx.edu
St. Mary's University, with Dr. Colton L. Daniels
Forensic Science Criminology
Does Religion Affect Intimate Partner Violence on PTSD? Exploring the Role of Divine Control on Those with PTSD as a Result of Partner Violence.
Intimate partner violence is an ongoing public health issue and accounts for 15% of all violent crimes. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner violence. This can lead to injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, and contraction of sexually transmitted diseases. Research exploring the linkages between religion and PTSD has received limited attention. Data comes from the Nashville Stress and Health Study (2011–2014), a cross-sectional probability survey of black and white adults from Davidson County, Tennessee (n = 1,252). Results indicate that those with a high belief in divine control are expected to increase an individual’s PTSD score. This study provides a fresh perspective on the links between partner violence and PTSD by (a) considering the effect of multiple religious variables and (b) elucidating the understudied association between divine control and PTSD. Research implications, study limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Session Location
- Foster 228
Session Date/Time
- Thursday, 3:00 - 4:00pm
Session Type
- Oral Student Presentations
- Student Presentations