Lambda Alpha Journal of Man, v.11, no.1, 1979

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The Lambda Alpha Journal of Man is published semi-annually by the Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honors Society at Wichita State University.

Editor-in-Chief : Dr. Wayne L. Parris
Student Editor : D. E. Maul
Student Editorial Staff : Linda Richardson and David Heinsohn

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    Lambda Alpha Journal of Man, v.11, no.1 (complete version)
    (Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honors Society at Wichita State University, 1979) Lambda Alpha National Collegiate Honors Society for Anthropology
    The series of papers presented in this volume are thought provoking and show originality. It is hoped that the reader will enjoy the authors' ideas about their particular aspect of the field of anthropology. The first paper in the series of articles is entitled "Current Issues in Archaeological Resource Management". This study deals with the evolution, history, and coordination of federal and state conservation laws and how they pertain to archaeological sites. One concept that is dealt with in this article is, what aJ'a the determining factors in making one archaeological site more significant than another. Mr. Gramann has done considerable research on the formulations and intricacies of the conservation laws. The second paper in our series is by Dr. Donald Blakeslee, entitled "Who Were the Plains Indian Berdaches?" Blakeslee examines the standard anthropological view toward berdaches. The problems of Western ideas are brought to the forefront when examining this phenomena of the Plains. He examines the old concepts against the weight of historic and ethnographic literature. This paper brings forward that the concept of abnormal sexual deviancy cannot be applied to the majority of cases in which the Plains groups had Oerdaches. The third paper in our series, hopefully will bring a smile and chuckle from the reader. The title of Mr. Urish's paper is "Cultural Diffusion: A Brief Overview of Popular Extremes, Some Conceptions and Misconceptions." This satirical look at "unqualified extremism" and "qualified extremism" is prevalent in today's multitudes of popular thought on the origins of the human race. Mr. Urish examines the ideas and methods of these pioneer scientists, who include Ignatius Donnely, Erich von Daniken and Thor Heyerdahl. Many societies and former cultures, like Mu, Atlantis, and even extraterres~ trials are dealt with by the author. The fourth and final paper in our series 1S titled, "Human Evolution: An Alternate Model of Hominid Social Development." This paper takes a serious look at hominid evolution. Mr. Metz, instead of using the baboon analogy, offers us another, that of the Patas monkey. He attempts to show that the adaptive strategy of the Patas monkey can be used to explain hominid social evolution at least as well as the baboon analogy. Mr. Metz has brought forth a new and alternate analogy that will stimulate the interests of many readers.
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    Who were the Plains Indian berdaches?
    (Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honors Society at Wichita State University, 1979) Blakeslee, Donald J.
    The standard anthropological view of berdaches is that they were men who took up their society 1 s version of the woman!~ role by choice -- male homosexuals who adopted women's dress and women's work without any loss of respect from their respect~ve communities. There is very little in the ethnohistoric and ethnological literature to support this point of view, however. The scattered and varied references to berdaches among the Plains Indians reflect a more complex situation. Berdaches may not always have been homosexuals, sometimes did not wear women's clothing, performed roles that were not identical to women's roles, and, in at least some tribes, appear to have inherited their status. It is probably misleading to assess Plains Indian berdache~ in terms of the sex role and sexual identity variations recognized in our own society. The iqeas and models implied by the terms homosexual, transvestite, and transsexual are not easily applied cross culturally. The processes of acquisition of sexual identity in Plains Indian societies were probably different enough from those in our own society (which are still poorly understood) to render analysis of them unrewarding at this time.
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    Cultural diffusion: A brief overview of popular extremes, some conceptions and misconceptions
    (Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honors Society at Wichita State University, 1979) Urish, Ben
    In this paper, two main types of extreme cultural diffusionist thought shall be examined. The "Unqualified Extremism", such as the works of Ignatius Donnely, and Erich von Daniken; and, "Qualified Extremism", like the studies of Thor Heyerdahl.
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    Human evolution: an alternate model of hominid social development
    (Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honors Society at Wichita State University, 1979) Metz, William M.
    Speculations on the evolution of hominid social structure have become quite popular in recent years. The primary concern of these theorists has been the development of a model which would accurately depict the adaptive strategy of early man. This paper is a response to the models which have been proposed. I will concern myself with one model in particular: the baboon analogy. This analogy has come into great favor in anthropological circles; so much so that it seems to have been accepted as a close approximation of the truth, This paper is an attempt to show that there are other, equally viable, models which can account for the fossil record and the idiosyncrasies of modern human society. An analogy accepted as explanation can be very damaging to future theoretical orientations. It is dangerous to put too much weight on such tenuous speculation. I will attempt to show that the adaptive strategy of the patas monkey can be used to explain hominid social evolution at least as well as the baboon analogy.
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    Current issues in archaeological resource management
    (Lambda Alpha Anthropology Honors Society at Wichita State University, 1979) Gramann, James H.
    The focus of this paper is on the issues and controversies that have arisen in connection with the management of archaeological resources at both the federal and state levels. Although archaeological resource management can be considered as falling under the broader umbrella of historic preservation, it has succeeded (if that is the proper word) in generating a series of exasperating problems unique unto itself. After a brief introduction to the science of prehistory and the need for management, these problems are discussed within the context of three important management tools: legislation, education, and planning. This division is convenient for pedagogical purposes, however it should not mask the fact that the concerns of archaeological resource management in the real world are highly interrelated. It is hoped that the presentation in this paper sheds some light on their true complexity.