Marriage patterns in an Archaic population : a study of skeletal remains from Port au Choix, Newfoundland

Kennedy, Brenda Valerie Elkins (1980) Marriage patterns in an Archaic population : a study of skeletal remains from Port au Choix, Newfoundland. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

In recent years there have been a variety of attempts to reconstruct prehistoric patterns of endogamy, exogamy, and post-nuptial residence using data collected from archaeological sites. This thesis is concerned with the use of data collected from skeletal remains in studies of this nature. More specifically, it is concerned with the use of osteological data in reconstructing the marriage patterns of a group of Archaic Indians buried at Port au Choix, Newfoundland. -- This study is based on the premise that marriage patterns determine the composition of the adult segment of hunter-gatherer groups, and that the composition of the adult segment is reflected in the expression of osteological traits within and between the sexes. A model is proposed which links the various combinations of endogamy and exogamy (three forms) and the three principle types of residence units with specific patterns of within- and between-sex variability of trait expression. -- A group of eighteen adult females and twenty-two adult males from Locus II of the Port au Choix-3 site is used as the sample for this study. A series of metric and non-metric traits describing the cranial and infracranial skeleton, and a number of univariate and multivariate statistical techniques are employed in the analysis. The results of the analysis seem to indicate the practice of exogamy coupled with a virilocal post-nuptial residence pattern. -- The use of osteological data in reconstructions of prehistoric marriage patterns would seem to be a valid endeavor if a well-defined sample is available, and if careful consideration is given to the selection of traits and statistical techniques employed in the analysis.

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