This paper presents the results of a research project investigating the types, frequencies, and spatial distribution of small items of refuse on and in floors of a prehistoric structure–the Heartbreak Hotel–excavated in central Utah. Excavation and analytical procedures specifically were designed to recover microrefuse–refuse with a minimum dimension of less than .25 cm. There is strong empirical support for the proposition that microrefuse recovered from such contexts will be found in its area of production, and that patterning in its spatial distribution will, other things being equal, indicate spatial patterning in the performance of the activities that produced the microrefuse. We demonstrate that there is rather dramatic patterning in the types and frequencies of microrefuse between and within rooms of the structure and discuss possible explanations for the character of that patterning. We conclude with a discussion of the present limitations of our understanding of refuse disposal and suggest avenues of ethnoarchaeological inquiry likely to produce better archaeological and behavioral expectations relating to spatial patterning of microrefuse.

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One goal of ethnoarchaeology is to strengthen archaeological inferences about the past. A fifteenth-century hunter-gatherer, open site in Utah is used to examine ethnoarchaeological contributions toward determining the use of space, duration of occupation, assemblage composition, and site function. Comparisons between macrorefuse and microrefuse patterning suggest that (1) the distribution of macrorefuse can help identify locations of ephemeral structures and household activity areas; (2) the distribution of microrefuse in this intermittently occupied open site is useful for assessing assemblage composition; (3) determining the characteristics of macro- and microrefuse improves hypotheses about duration of occupation; and (4) interpretation of plant remains can be improved by considering site-formation processes. The study points to the need for a closer linkage between ethnoarchaeology and the archaeology of the past.

ObjectivesThe C282Y allele is the major cause of hemochromatosis as a result of excessive iron absorption. The mutation arose in continental Europe no earlier than 6,000 years ago, coinciding with the arrival of the Neolithic agricultural revolution. Here we hypothesize that this new Neolithic diet, which originated in the sunny warm and dry climates of the Middle East, was carried by migrating farmers into the chilly and damp environments of Europe where iron is a critical micronutrient for effective thermoregulation. We argue that the C282Y allele was an adaptation to this novel environment.Materials and MethodsTo address our hypothesis, we compiled C282Y allele frequencies, known Neolithic sites in Europe and climatic data on temperature and rainfall for statistical analysis.ResultsOur findings indicate that the geographic cline for C282Y frequency in Europe increases as average temperatures decrease below 16°C, a critical threshold for thermoregulation, with rainy days intensifying the trend.DiscussionThe results indicate that the deleterious C282Y allele, responsible for most cases of hemochromatosis, may have evolved as a selective advantage to culture and climate during the European Neolithic. Am J Phys Anthropol 160:86–101, 2016. © 2016 The Authors American Journal of Physical Anthropology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Despite billions of dollars devoted to HIV/AIDS prevention since 1990, rates of infection continue to climb worldwide, primarily through heterosexual contact, and Sub-Saharan Africa is the worst case scenario (UNAIDS, 2004). Traditional intervention programs based on the ABCs (abstinence, being faithful, and condom use) of safe sex practices have shown mixed success. Engaging in risky sexual behavior (behaviors not adhering to the ABCs of safe sex practices) continues to escalate the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although research abounds with correlates to HIV/AIDS rates, few studies have addressed the basis of sexual behavior. Here we show that not only are HIV/AIDS rates significantly higher in Sub-Saharan Africa than in the rest of the world but also infant mortality rates and teenage birth rates are higher as well. Based on these findings, we argue that engaging in risky sexual behavior, in many circumstances associated with deplorable living conditions and high mortality, is the only viable option for avoiding reproductive failure: dying without leaving surviving descendents. We suggest that initiatives that improve overall health and living conditions in the at-risk populations are necessary before traditional intervention programs can effectively combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.