Lambda Alpha Journal of Man, v.11, no.1 (complete version)

Abstract

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.