Osteoware

Osteoware is a free data recording software for human skeletal material run through the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. This software program is utilized by biological anthropologists to document data relevant to research studies and forensic applications regarding human skeletal remains in a standardized and consistent way.[1] It has been the influence for other skeletal recording software, and was successful in collection of data records in relevance to biological anthropology at the Smithsonian.[2] Osteoware is the only freely downloadable software program for individual use for data collection of skeletal material in anthropology.[3]

Uses

When analyzing a skeletal population or individual, the biological anthropologist collects various forms of data, ranging from metric analysis to taphonomic and pathological analysis. Osteoware is beneficial in that it organizes the range of data collected in a universal format. This is of further use for the anthropologist when they need to interpret their data. If the focus of the anthropologist's research is the dentition of the skeletal remains, Osteoware has a dental inventory for both deciduous, and permanent, or adult, dentition. Osteoware is particularly useful for archaeological sites or disaster sites that have commingled remains. One major issue regarding commingled remains, is how to document and organize the data associated with the commingling. Osteoware has two primary features that remedy this difficulty. On the home page, there is a button to add individuals in association with the main individual whom the data is being collected on. There is also a special function button that is advantageous for use when there is no associated main individual in the commingling or when one is unable to associate other skeletal remains with a specified main individual.[4]

Software features

Within the program, there are twelve modules where one can manually insert both qualitative and quantitative data. These sections include: Skeletal Inventory, Pathology, Taphonomy, Dental Morphology and Inventory, Age and Sex, Cranial and Postcranial Metrics, Cranial Nonmetrics, Macromorphoscopics, and Cranial Deformations.[5] The module buttons are color coded in relation to the status of the data, for example the button is yellow if data is required and purple when it has been provided. Integrating photographs, X-ray data, and commingled bone documentation is also possible with this software through four special function buttons.

Regarding the radiographic and X-ray data, Osteoware provides a pending option prior to completion of this form of data. Whenever the data entry is complete within Osteoware, a module for the Summary Paragraph is provided. This provides an opportunity to discuss additional information, as well as summarize the data collected within the software. To make this module easier, Osteoware has a function where comments from other modules can be inserted within the Summary Paragraph. This software is primarily Windows compatible, but users of Mac OS 10.5 and further are able to use this software if able to download software that allows for switching between Windows and Mac, such as BootCamp. It is possible to extract data from the software program, because Osteoware operates as a 'relational database environment' and requires a Structured Query Language for accurate extraction.

Members

The project team consists of Kathleen Aida from the Repatriation Osteological Laboratory at Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, Tyler Cargill, a bioarchaeology Master's student at the University of Exeter, Chris Dudar, the manager at the Smithsonian's Repatriation Osteological Laboratory, Joseph Hefner from the DPAA formerly known as the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Erica Jones, who also works at the Smithsonian Repatriation Osteological Laboratory, Marilyn London from the Grand Valley State University Anthropology department, Dawn Mulhern from Fort Lewis College's Anthropology department, Claire O'Brien also from the Smithsonian's Repatriation Osteological Laboratory, Steve Ousley from Mercyhurst College's Anthropology department, and Cynthia Wilczak from San Francisco State University's Anthropology department.[6]

History

After the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was passed as a federal law in 1990, efforts were made in the field of biological anthropology to provide better documentation of skeletal remains. The Smithsonian does does not fall under NAGPRA, but falls under the NMAIA. Prior to the passing of NAGPRA, the National Museum of the American Indian Act (NMAIA) was passed by congress in 1989.[7] This act is similar to NAGPRA in that it requires necessary repatriation of Native American skeletal remains and spiritually significant artifacts back to the Native American tribes to which they belong. Osteoware grew out of the efforts.[8] After Buikstra and Ubelaker's Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains was published and was used by biological anthropologists as a field and data collection manual, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History deemed it vital that a digital data entry system was needed, and the data entry fields are modeled from Buikstra and Ubelaker's Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains.[9]

Criticism

Aside from the adding individuals button and commingled inventories special function button, one can also use the tracking database system for commingled skeletal elements. The tracking system is useful for keeping track of commingled remains during data collection and for further or future efforts for reassociation.[10] When and which method to use when documenting commingled remains is not up to the software, but rather up to the individual inserting the data. It is therefore difficult to discern when to identify which feature to use. Osteoware does not provide an entry for 'unknown' in for the siding of a bone and also does not incorporate provenience into the options. Cargill, Grant, Oubre, and Danforth suggest that these two options would be beneficial to add to osteoware.[11] The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has integrated a forum where users can discuss criticisms and potential suggestions to better improve Osteoware as a data collection software. Currently, Osteoware is expanding the Taphonomy module to include documentation of peri- and postmortem cut marks and partial versus complete cremation.[12] Osteoware is also expanding beyond Buikstra and Ubelaker's Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains for the Postcranial Nonmetric Traits.

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Martin, Debra; Osterholtz, Anna J (2015). Bodies and Lives in Ancient America: Health Before Columbus. Routledge.
  2. ↑ Wilczak, Cynthia; Madden, Gwyn D (2011). "The Osteoware Symposium Co-Organizers: Cynthia A. Wilczak and Gwyn D. Madden" (PDF).
  3. ↑ Kaiser, Jessica E (2015). "BADaBooM – a New Database Solution for Bioarchaeology". The 84th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Podium Session.
  4. ↑ Wilczak, Cynthia (2011). "Inventories, Adding Individuals, and Tracking Skeletal Elements in Osteoware" (PDF). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 144: 311.
  5. ↑ "Learning to Use Osteoware | Osteoware". osteoware.si.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  6. ↑ "Contact the Project Team | Osteoware". osteoware.si.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  7. ↑ "Appendix F. SUBCHAPTER XIII NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Home Page | Osteoware". osteoware.si.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  9. ↑ Killgrove, K. 2013. Bioarchaeology. In: Oxford Bibliographies Online – Anthropology, J.L. Jackson, Jr., ed. OxfordUniversity Press. DOI: 10.1093/OBO/9780199766567-0121.
  10. ↑ Dudar, Christopher J; Jones, Erica (2011). "Introduction to the Osteoware Data Entry Software Program" (PDF). Mercyhurst University. Repatriation Osteology Laboratory Smithsonian Institution, NMNH.
  11. ↑ Cargill, Tyler; Grant, Katy; Obre, Susan; Danforth, Marie (2011). "Using Osteoware to Analyze the Number of Commingled Individuals in a Recently Excavated Ossuary". Academia. Southeastern Archaeological Conference.
  12. ↑ "Future Expansion Modules | Osteoware". osteoware.si.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
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