Anthropology

The purpose of this study is to understand how the relationship between generational cattle ranchers and conservation efforts is changing given rapid development and urbanization within the state of Florida over the past decade. To understand this relationship, the author used participant observation in conjunction with ethnographic interviews to work with ranchers and individuals from the Green Paths Foundation to draw a comprehensive picture of how development has affected ranching and conservation efforts in Florida. With the help of cultural consultants, I was able to make additional connections within the ranching and conservation communities that helped to provide further context to the question being investigated in this thesis and to understand how Florida’s Conservation Corridor mediates between ranchers and conservation imperatives.

The Miami Circle (8DA12) is a site in downtown Miami, Florida with a unique prehistoric feature. The feature is made up of small post holes which reflect a larger patterned arrangement that resembles a circle, most probably the remnants of a prehistoric structure. The Miami Circle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and declared a National Historic Landmark on January 16, 2009. The site has been linked to the Tequesta Indians.
This project utilized chi-square 𝑥2 test of independence statistical analytical methods using data obtained from the Miami Circle site and neighboring sites to determine the logical boundaries of the prehistoric village called Tequesta. Chi-square testing will determine if there is a statistically significant difference between the sites based on calculations of expected and observed frequency for sets of recovered artifacts.

Tennis, like many sports, demands high levels of performance. To ensure victory athletes try to exclude negative factors. In part this is accomplished through the medium of ritualized behavior. Within the tennis subculture there is a certain etiquette that must be maintained. By conforming to the performance of rituals prior to, during, and after a tennis match the potential for victory has been enhanced. Ritualized behavior serves to eliminate anxiety. Anxiety may lead to a loss in concentration, therefore its eradication can only benefit the player in question. Through observation of individuals within the tennis subculture, it becomes apparent that performance levels may differ depending on the ritual being performed.