Archeological and paleontological bone samples can potentially provide valuable information that can be forensically useful to future research and application. Proteins are robust and do not quickly degrade due to environmental conditions or outside factors. Therefore, understanding potential proteomic signatures in bone is useful when DNA may be too degraded to provide information about the subject. An analysis encompassing bone samples and gelatinous materials was conducted to determine similarities between the two matrices. Radiocarbon dates and ontogenetic ages also compared the samples to identify patterns between the samples. The samples underwent a reduction, alkylation, and trypsin digestion prior to instrumental analysis. The samples were analyzed with an Exploris 480 orbitrap mass spectrometer with an in-line Dionex Ultimate 3K UPLC. The most abundant proteins found in the samples consist of albumin (ALB) and collagen type I (COL1A1). A range of 52-749 peptides (mean 262) and 48-98 proteins (mean 49) were identified in bone samples. The gelatinous material samples identified more peptides with a range of 112 to 754 and an average of 415 peptides. The proteins identified in gelatinous materials range from 13 to 107 groups, averaging 57 proteins. The proteins were categorized into four different groups: blood/serum proteins, extracellular proteins, collagen proteins, and “other” proteins. The bone samples’ proteins were compared based on their ontogenetic age and radiocarbon date. The bone samples were categorized into four groups: Perinate/neonate, 15-23 years old, 24-40 years old, and 40+ in which 47, 37, 15, and 11 exclusive proteins were identified, respectively. The unique and exclusive identified proteins decreased as the ontogenetic age increased. The bone samples were organized into three groups based on their radiocarbon date: 500-1000, 1001-1100, and 1101-1600 years old. The first group (500-1000) identified 97 exclusive proteins. The second group (1001-1100) identified 30 exclusive proteins, and the oldest bones (1101-1600) identified eight exclusive proteins. The gelatinous material samples were compared based on their appearance and structure. The white and feather-like sample contained 31 exclusive proteins, whereas the brown and feather-like identified one protein. The oily and tacky samples identified two exclusive proteins. The paired gelatinous material and bone samples were compared and showed that collagen and albumin prefer the gelatinous material, and most extracellular matrix proteins are found in bone matrix. This paper demonstrates the variability of proteins in bone samples based on their ontogenetic and radiocarbon age. The presence of proteins in gelatinous material with varying physical appearance is also compared to identify potential proteins responsible for physical variability. Overall, the data shows potential gelatinous and bone proteomics use in forensic and bioarcheological spaces.

This study’s research question and hypotheses are derived from early anthropological and social theories, which suggest that the sexual division of labor is correlated to postmarital residence patterns. Those studies hypothesized that matridominant subsistence favors matrilocality while patridominant subsistence favors patrilocality. Advancements in archaeometry, particularly isotope analysis of human skeletal tissues, permit archaeologists to generate nuanced data sets to investigate ancient diet and mobility patterns. Stable isotope analysis provides evidence of paleomigration and diet for individuals, can distinguish between site- and individual-level residential and dietary patterns, and permits comparison between male- and female-mobility and dietary patterns. The original objective of this dissertation research was to investigate the relationship between the sexual division of labor with postmarital residence for Early Period (c. 5000–2400 cal BP) populations from archaeological sites CA-SAC-107 and CA-SJO-68 in central California, using five different isotopic systems (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S, δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr). While new radiocarbon dates, reported here, reveal assays ranging from 4497 ± 27 to 3132 ± 24 RCYBP at CA-SJO-68, as expected, those from CA-SAC-107 range from 3427±26 to 135±20 RCYBP and thus necessitated re-evaluation of chronological patterns. Paleodietary reconstruction using δ13C and δ15N of human bone collagen and δ13C of bone apatite largely support expectations from archaeofaunal, paleobotanical, and artifactual evidence from central California. Isotopic indicators of diet reveal that the CA-SAC-107 population foraged within a C3-terrestrial food web with minimal sex differences in dietary behaviors. Confounding variables, including small sample sizes and the temporal bias of sampled elements, limited interpretation of sex-biased mobility and postmarital residence in the Early Period using δ34S, δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr at CA-SAC-107. However, isotopic results relating to human geolocation at the site are generally consistent with marriage endogamy and increasing sedentism over time. Paleodietary reconstruction at CA-SJO-68 using δ13C and δ15N of human bone are consistent with high input of freshwater-riverine resources and demonstrate that males typically consumed higher-trophic-level resources than females. Results of paleomobility analysis and interpretation of postmarital residence using δ34S, δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr at CA-SJO-68 are consistent with endogamous marriage practices and greater mobility for males, particularly during late adolescence.

The last 2,000 years of prehistory in the southern Owens Valley of eastern California witnessed major changes in human subsistence, settlement, and technology. Using a household perspective, we test the hypothesis that these societies became increasingly focused on the nuclear and/or extended family as the basic economic unit. To this end, we examine patterns in the acquisition of exotic materials, especially obsidian and marine-shell beads, in relationship to other locally produced artifact categories. Results show (1) an increasing geochemical diversity in obsidian and an increasing density of non-local beads, indicating increased and geographically wider trading activities through time; (2) an increasing heterogeneity between household units in terms of access to non-local obsidian after 650 B.R, indicating differential access to exchange networks; and (3) a correlation between house size and obsidian diversity after 650 B.R, suggesting that larger domestic units differentially participated in the movement of exotic goods. These findings support the notion that households, as basic economic units, were increasingly focused on internal subsistence and exchange pursuits, rather than village- or communal-level activities, and that exotic material goods became increasingly privatized over time in association with the privatization of subsistence resources.

Pottery from Sunga'va, a single-component Haiwee period site (ca. 1,150 B.P.) in southern Owens Valley, was analyzed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis within a larger study of western Great Basin ceramics. The discovery of pottery in a Haiwee Period site positions the advent of ceramic technology in Owens Valley some 500 years earlier than previously thought. Analyses indicate that the pottery was made from local sedimentary clays collected in or near Owens Lake.