This paper examines the viability of the reconstruction of gendered spaces at the site of El Flaco in North-Western Dominican Republic. It endeavors to set a foundation for a methodology that could...Show moreThis paper examines the viability of the reconstruction of gendered spaces at the site of El Flaco in North-Western Dominican Republic. It endeavors to set a foundation for a methodology that could facilitate further research into the topic based on previous studies. It also examines ethnographic studies to determine whether comparisons between the Amazon region of South America are helpful in understanding gendered spaces at El Flaco. It examines Ethnohistorical sources on the subject of gender from both the Amazon region and the Lesser Antilles and Greater Antilles to provide a useful comparative study. It also uses an Ethnohistorical source based on oral tradition of the indigenous people of Jamaica to gain some information on the gender division of labor and how it relates to gendered spaces. It was found that the potential for such reconstructions is possible but in the case of the site of El Flaco still more research is needed to make any conclusive assumptions about gendered spaces in the archaeological recordShow less
Sex estimation is one of the most important parts of osteological research and mortuary analysis. Since its origins it has remained fixed in binary ideas of our modern gender roles and female/male...Show moreSex estimation is one of the most important parts of osteological research and mortuary analysis. Since its origins it has remained fixed in binary ideas of our modern gender roles and female/male fixed binary identities. This potentially leads to bias, especially when often sex is estimated based on the associated grave goods the individual was buried with. This thesis aims to explore whether it is true there are bias in the way we approach mortuary analysis, in order to do that a comparative analysis was conducted of graves were the individual was buried with swords and other male associated grave goods, which lead to the original excavation team to estimate the sex as male. These burials where later on revisited and different estimation methods proved that the individual did not belong to the male sex. The thesis aims to analyse these case studies through the lens of gender theory and Gender archaeology in order to explore more nuanced ways of conducting sex estimation that will minimize the bias that is brought into the field.Show less
