Papers by Charla Marshall
Objectives: Analysis of a mass burial of seven males at CA-ALA-554, a prehistoric site in the Ama... more Objectives: Analysis of a mass burial of seven males at CA-ALA-554, a prehistoric site in the Amador Valley, CA, was undertaken to determine if the individuals were " locals " or " non-locals, " and how they were genetically related to one another. Methods: The study includes osteological, genetic (mtDNA), and stable (C, N, O, S) and radiogenic (Sr) isotope analyses of bone and tooth (first and third molars) samples. Results: Isotopes in first molars, third molars, and bone show they spent the majority of their lives living together. They are not locals to the Amador Valley, but were recently living to the east in the San Joaquin Valley, suggesting intergroup warfare as the cause of death. The men were not maternally related, but represent at least four different matrilines. The men also changed residence as a group between age 16 and adult years. Conclusions: Isotope data suggest intergroup warfare accounts for the mass burial. Genetic data suggest the raiding party included sets of unrelated men, perhaps from different households. Generalizing from this case and others like it, we hypothesize that competition over territory was a major factor behind ancient warfare in Central California. We present a testable model of demographic expansion, wherein villages in high-population-density areas frequently fissioned, with groups of individuals moving to lower-population-density areas to establish new villages. This model is consistent with previous models of linguistic expansion. Am J Phys Anthropol 000:000–000, 2015. V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology, Nov 2013
This article summarizes an ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of 100 burials from the Mississippian Ange... more This article summarizes an ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of 100 burials from the Mississippian Angel Mounds site. Although the DNA recovery rate was poor (25%), a number of interesting results were revealed through this project. The maternal genetic status of the "conjoined twins" and female immigrants to Angel Mounds was determined, a relatively rare mitochondrial haplogroup (C4c) was identified, and evidence of regional gene flow was identified. DNA degradation was attributed to the sun drying of human remains during the excavations at Angel Mounds.
Conjoined twins are born when a single fertilized egg partially splits into two fetuses. A hypoth... more Conjoined twins are born when a single fertilized egg partially splits into two fetuses. A hypothetical case of infant conjoined twins from Angel Mounds, a Middle Mississippian site (A.D. 1050–1400) on the Ohio River near Evansville, Indiana, was discovered in 1941. Morphological analysis does not rule out the field interpretation of this double burial as twins. Ancient mitochondrial DNA recovered from both infants demonstrates that they were not maternal relatives, and hence that they cannot have been conjoined twins. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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Papers by Charla Marshall