Publications by Ann Laffey
RATIONALE: Bone lipid compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) and bone collagen and apatite sta... more RATIONALE: Bone lipid compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) and bone collagen and apatite stable isotope ratio
analysis are important sources of ecological and paleodietary information. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) is quicker
and utilizes less solvent than traditional methods of lipid extraction such as soxhlet and ultrasonication. This study
facilitates dietary analysis by optimizing and testing a standardized methodology for PLE of bone cholesterol.
METHODS: Modern and archaeological bones were extracted by PLE using varied temperatures, solvent solutions, and
sample weights. The efficiency of PLE was assessed via quantification of cholesterol yields. Stable isotopic ratio integrity
was evaluated by comparing isotopic signatures (δ13C and δ18O values) of cholesterol derived from whole bone, bone
collagen and bone apatite. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography isotope ratio
mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS) were conducted on purified collagen and lipid extracts to assess isotopic responses to PLE.
RESULTS: Lipid yield was optimized at two PLE extraction cycles of 75 °C using dichloromethane/methanol (2:1 v/v) as a
solvent with 0.25–0.75 g bone sample. Following lipid extraction, saponification combined with the derivatization of the
neutral fraction using trimethylsilylation yielded nearly twice the cholesterol of non-saponified or non-derivatized
samples. It was also found that lipids extracted from purified bone collagen and apatite could be used for cholesterol CSIA.
There was no difference in the bulk δ13C values of collagen extracted from bone with or without lipid. However, there was
a significant depletion in 18O of bone apatite due to lipid presence or processing.
CONCLUSIONS: These results should assist sample selection and provide an effective, alternative extraction method for
bone cholesterol that may be used for isotopic and paleodietary analysis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The roots of this volume go back to the session titled "Characterization of Andean Ceramics" orga... more The roots of this volume go back to the session titled "Characterization of Andean Ceramics" organized at the 2014 Society for American Archaeology meeting in Austin Texas. The session meant to offer a perspective on the state of ceramic analysis in Andean archaeology, on recent views about manufacture, production and circulation of wares in the ancient Andes, and on the technological traditions characterizing each region. The panorama of research presented in this volume testifies to the vitality of ceramic analysis in Andean archaeology. It highlights the work of leading scholars and younger archaeologists conducting investigations mostly in Peru and Chile, combining a variety of mineral and chemical studies to investigate socio-political and cultural questions, issues of political control, intra-and intervalley interactions, and expressions of cultural traditions and social identities in the ancient Andes. The different chapters cover a large time frame, from the 1st millennium BC to the Inca period, while ethnographic and experimental studies supply additional invaluable information for the interpretation of the archaeological data. As well, this volume offers an overview of the sampling strategies and analytical techniques currently used in Andean studies for material analysis.
Papers by Ann Laffey
Conference Presentations by Ann Laffey
Reliefs from the ancient Andean empires of the Moche (A.D. 100-800, Peruvian Andes) and the Tiwan... more Reliefs from the ancient Andean empires of the Moche (A.D. 100-800, Peruvian Andes) and the Tiwanaku (A.D. 400-1100, Peruvian-Bolivian Andes) are presented as lunisolar-Venus calendric compositions. The Moche Guerrero or Warrior releif and the Tiwanaku Gate Way of the Sun relief each consist of forty-eight characters arranged in a grid and are displayed within monumental architecture. The interpretation of the reliefs is founded on a base-ten numeric system, the construct of a Wari calendric textile (A.D. 600-1000, Peruvian Andes), and the socioeconomic organization of the Moche and Tiwanaku empires who utilized the reliefs for ritual, tribute, and mit’a (corvée) coordination.
Society for Andean and Amazonian Studies, Biennial Conference
During the Middle Horizon (c. A.D. 600-1100), the Empires of the Wari and the Tiwanaku dominated ... more During the Middle Horizon (c. A.D. 600-1100), the Empires of the Wari and the Tiwanaku dominated the Andean landscape. The Wari, however, were once believed to be part of a Pan-Andean Tiwanaku phenomenon. A primary reason for this initial confusion lay with the similarity of the iconographic expression between these two cultures. Subsequent scholarship has furthered our ability to distinguish between artifacts associated with the Wari versus the Tiwanaku. However, there exist numerous vessels that exhibit “hybrid” designs that incorporate both Wari and Tiwanaku elements. A preliminary examination of over 400 Wari and Tiwanaku earthenware vessels and detailed sherd materials from archaeological and museum collections explores the relationship between these hybrid vessels and socio-political organization. Ethnographic, ethnohistoric, and archaeological data are used to evaluate the impetus that lay behind the production of these hybrid-political expressions. A subsequent analysis focuses on vessels that were intimately involved in the feasting and chicha-based economy of the Wari. It is hypothesized that women were the primary producers of these vessels and that exogamous, polygynous social organization and post-marital political affiliation resulted in hybrid iconographic expression. Further, it is proposed that the variability of iconographic expression and the regional concentrations of large chicha-based assemblages within the Wari corpus are suggestive of a resourceful, segmentary political organization that effectively utilized social and material resources to expand the domain of its empire.
Field School Instruction by Ann Laffey
I am proud to be associated with the archaeological project known as PIARA (Proyecto de Investiga... more I am proud to be associated with the archaeological project known as PIARA (Proyecto de Investigacion Archaeologico Regional Ancash). I have served as an instructor for the field school program concentrating in bioarchaeology. The program is directed by Lic. Elizabeth Cruzado Carranza (Lima, Peru) and Rebecca Bria (Vanderbilt University). This project is known for its commitment to community outreach while consistently contributing to the understanding of Andean prehistory via the local community. The project also sponsors collaborative undergraduate, MA, and PhD projects which have resulted in numerous national conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications. Please visit their website to learn more about this wonderful project.
Hualcayan Field School Flyer by Ann Laffey
Conference Papers and Posters by Ann Laffey
Preliminary findings from the global metabolomic analysis of selected pottery samples from prehis... more Preliminary findings from the global metabolomic analysis of selected pottery samples from prehistoric southern Vietnam support the findings from lipid profiling using GC-MS and stable isotopic analysis (bulk and compound specific) that some vessels were used to prepare and serve C 3 plant food resources. PCA was applied on the metabolomics data of organic residues from 25 archaeological samples (21 absorbed residues and four charred surface residues on pottery) and seven modern samples (five absorbed organic residues and two charred surface residues on clay pots used for cooking plant foodstuff). Archaeological samples are from Rạch Núi (Neolithic, 1500-1200 B.C.), An Sơn (Neolithic, 2200-1300 BC), Lò Gạch (1100-700 B.C., Metal Age), and Gò Ô Chùa (Metal Age, ca. 1000-150 BC). The results of PCA confirmed that the biomolecular profiles of the plant foodstuff (rice, millet, swamp cabbage, and coconut milk) that were experimentally cooked on modern earthenware pots (blue) do not match those of selected archaeological pottery samples (red), which many were interpreted as used for preparing and serving plant food sources.
The Moche of north coastal Peru (AD 200-800) have been the focus of much archaeological investiga... more The Moche of north coastal Peru (AD 200-800) have been the focus of much archaeological investigation. Although analyses of settlement pattern, site layout and construction, and mortuary and ritual practice have shed light on social organization, little is known about Moche diets and thus the daily experience of political economy. To begin to address these questions, the remains of 115 individuals excavated from the Huacas de Moche site (the paramount center in the Moche Valley) were examined. This sample included 62 individuals excavated from tombs located in Huaca de la Luna and 53 individuals recovered from the urban core. Previously reported oral health indicators suggest that individuals buried in the urban core consumed more carbohydrates than those interred in the huaca. To further contextualize oral health data, dental calculus was collected from 20 individuals who presented deposits sufficient for sampling. Because calculus preserves micro-botanical remains such as phytoliths, pollen, sponge spicules, and starch grains, it can provide direct and proxy evidence of paleodiet. Samples were deflocculated, mounted, and micro-fossils were identified using polarized microscopy. The presence of Type 1 starch grains associated with grasses and collected plants was detected. Further, both spicules forms and distinctive tissues known as cormus anastomosis associated with two species of sponges: Clathrina antofagastensis and Sycon huinayense, were identified. These species are known to be associated with macroalgae and mussel species such as Pyura chilensis, thus their presence have paleodietary implications. These data suggest both field crops and marine resources were important components of Moche diets.
Research was supported by the Wagner College Faculty Research Grant and Anonymous Donor Grant and Student Support.
Other by Ann Laffey
(draft): We invite paper proposals for those interested in the analysis of archaeological organic... more (draft): We invite paper proposals for those interested in the analysis of archaeological organic residues, which include biomolecular, micro-, and macroremains. Our primary interest is in the development of public and professional presentation methods to bridge the gap between the science of the analysis and the significance of the data. Because many of the aforementioned chemical and morphological methods are complex and unfamiliar to many archaeological scientists and laypersons alike, explaining the rigor and the validity of the methodology often dominates the bulk of professional and public presentations. Consequently, the cultural implications of the findings are glossed and, in some cases, greatly oversimplified. In this session, we would challenge researchers to create presentations that are suitable for an educated, general audience. We are seeking well-balanced papers in which the method and the interpretation are given equal weight. We would encourage the use of creative, well-constructed, and easily understood visuals. We would also welcome presentations that target specific age groups, such as high school and secondary education forums. Here, the cultural interpretation should extend beyond the past and reach into the present – how well can a general audience understand the method and the meaning of the research? In this session, we intend to provide time slots for feedback and questions from the audience. It is hoped that the papers produced for this session will be subsequently presented in academic and public forums alike. Our goal for this symposium is that it becomes an exercise in communication that increases the relevance of archaeological work and its accessibility to the public. Research from all geographic areas and time periods are welcome. Please feel free to distribute this and photocopy or reproduce the image. We're looking for around 10-12 papers.
Required texts & Film: 1. Dufour, Goodman, & Pelto (2012) Nutritional Anthropology. 2nd edition. ... more Required texts & Film: 1. Dufour, Goodman, & Pelto (2012) Nutritional Anthropology. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press 2. Counihan & VanEsterik (2013) Food & Culture: A reader. 3rd edition. Routledge 3. *** This course will incorporate films to be viewed at home: Films are the same as assigned readings and they are to be screened outside of class, BEFORE attending class. These films are available either through Netflix, youtube, by weblink, or the library. All films will be discussed in class in a group forum followed by a written assignment. Course description: All ideas, beliefs, and rules regarding food are cultural; they are learned behavior. Food is a universal, yet highly diverse, feature of the human condition. Foodways function to create social unity, but also to distinguish cultures. How and why do cultures develop unique methods of food preparation and consumption? How do food rules develop and how are they maintained? The goal of this class is to gain an understanding of foodways in different cultures and how food habits function beyond providing calories and sustenance. We use information from biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, and human ecology to understand the historical development of foodways and modern cultural variation in food habits in different areas of the world. We also examine issues related to modern disparities in health and nutrition in light of globalization and the political factors that result in differential production and access to food resources. Course objectives: Know the evolutionary and biological basis of human diet Identify the historical development of food habits and consequences of global colonization Recognize cultural origins and rationales for food prohibitions Describe modern cultural obstacles to food selection and the resulting health consequences Analyze the role of modern political systems on food production, distribution, and consumption Learning outcomes: 1. Gain awareness and understanding of the cross cultural impact of the social and/or natural environment on the development of self and culture: Students will participate in two scheduled activities that require them to explore their material world and to relate the physical materials to the social and historical forces that make them manifest 2. Organize collected information in a coherent, unified, and logical manner: Students will provide a series of written responses to film productions. These submissions will be assessed for logical organization, appropriate arguments and accompanying supporting peer-reviewed reference materials.
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Publications by Ann Laffey
analysis are important sources of ecological and paleodietary information. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) is quicker
and utilizes less solvent than traditional methods of lipid extraction such as soxhlet and ultrasonication. This study
facilitates dietary analysis by optimizing and testing a standardized methodology for PLE of bone cholesterol.
METHODS: Modern and archaeological bones were extracted by PLE using varied temperatures, solvent solutions, and
sample weights. The efficiency of PLE was assessed via quantification of cholesterol yields. Stable isotopic ratio integrity
was evaluated by comparing isotopic signatures (δ13C and δ18O values) of cholesterol derived from whole bone, bone
collagen and bone apatite. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography isotope ratio
mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS) were conducted on purified collagen and lipid extracts to assess isotopic responses to PLE.
RESULTS: Lipid yield was optimized at two PLE extraction cycles of 75 °C using dichloromethane/methanol (2:1 v/v) as a
solvent with 0.25–0.75 g bone sample. Following lipid extraction, saponification combined with the derivatization of the
neutral fraction using trimethylsilylation yielded nearly twice the cholesterol of non-saponified or non-derivatized
samples. It was also found that lipids extracted from purified bone collagen and apatite could be used for cholesterol CSIA.
There was no difference in the bulk δ13C values of collagen extracted from bone with or without lipid. However, there was
a significant depletion in 18O of bone apatite due to lipid presence or processing.
CONCLUSIONS: These results should assist sample selection and provide an effective, alternative extraction method for
bone cholesterol that may be used for isotopic and paleodietary analysis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Papers by Ann Laffey
Conference Presentations by Ann Laffey
Field School Instruction by Ann Laffey
Hualcayan Field School Flyer by Ann Laffey
Conference Papers and Posters by Ann Laffey
Research was supported by the Wagner College Faculty Research Grant and Anonymous Donor Grant and Student Support.
Other by Ann Laffey
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2017/05/12/micro-fossils-show-moche-munched-on-marine-meals/#58a5279433d3
analysis are important sources of ecological and paleodietary information. Pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) is quicker
and utilizes less solvent than traditional methods of lipid extraction such as soxhlet and ultrasonication. This study
facilitates dietary analysis by optimizing and testing a standardized methodology for PLE of bone cholesterol.
METHODS: Modern and archaeological bones were extracted by PLE using varied temperatures, solvent solutions, and
sample weights. The efficiency of PLE was assessed via quantification of cholesterol yields. Stable isotopic ratio integrity
was evaluated by comparing isotopic signatures (δ13C and δ18O values) of cholesterol derived from whole bone, bone
collagen and bone apatite. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography isotope ratio
mass spectrometry (GC/IRMS) were conducted on purified collagen and lipid extracts to assess isotopic responses to PLE.
RESULTS: Lipid yield was optimized at two PLE extraction cycles of 75 °C using dichloromethane/methanol (2:1 v/v) as a
solvent with 0.25–0.75 g bone sample. Following lipid extraction, saponification combined with the derivatization of the
neutral fraction using trimethylsilylation yielded nearly twice the cholesterol of non-saponified or non-derivatized
samples. It was also found that lipids extracted from purified bone collagen and apatite could be used for cholesterol CSIA.
There was no difference in the bulk δ13C values of collagen extracted from bone with or without lipid. However, there was
a significant depletion in 18O of bone apatite due to lipid presence or processing.
CONCLUSIONS: These results should assist sample selection and provide an effective, alternative extraction method for
bone cholesterol that may be used for isotopic and paleodietary analysis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Research was supported by the Wagner College Faculty Research Grant and Anonymous Donor Grant and Student Support.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2017/05/12/micro-fossils-show-moche-munched-on-marine-meals/#58a5279433d3