Quantitative Mortuary Patterns Exercise

Burial Practices and Social Status at the Valley of the Mummies Cemetery
Our research team has completed the investigation of a small cemetery in
the coastal ecological zone of the Valley of the Mummies. Forty-three burials
were excavated in this cemetery and have been identified with Period 1
hunter gatherer populations. Excavations recovered data on the sex of the
buried person, their age at death, and the number of artifacts with which
they were buried. The following chart organizes this data. In this exercise,
you will use this data to analyze and interpret difference in sex, age, and
status evident at this cemetery and create a report of your findings. Refer to
the Instructions Sheet on page 3 for further guidelines regarding the report.
Refer to the Grading Rubric on page 4 for a detailed breakdown of how your
grade will be assessed.
Burial
ID

Sex

Age at
Death

Artifac
ts

Burial
ID

Male

11

10

12

Male

13

24

Male

15

22

15

Male

18

31

26

Male

18

34

13

Male

20

11

32

Male

20

63

17

Male

22

38

36

Male

22

19

Male

28

35

Male

28

33

Male

30

25

37

Male

30

30

Male

32

10

39
1

Sex
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal

Age at
Death

Artifa
cts

10

14

16

18

18

20

20

20

10

21

23

13

24

19

30

21

35

20

27

48

18

Male

33

57

27

23

Male

35

40

20

Male

40

13

28

21

Male

40

50

41

14

Male

45

15

44

16

Male

48

25

Male

55

18

42
29

e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e
Femal
e

40

13

43

10

45

50

59

75

60

60

62

70

10

Mortuary Patterns of the Valley of the Mummies Cemetery

(5 points per task, 25 total points)
With the data provided, you will be using Excel software to create graphs. If
you are unfamiliar with Excel, refer to the Instruction Sheet on page 3 for
information on tutorials. All graphs or plots created for this assignment must
be presented with a title and axis labels. When a task requires written
discussion, your response should be informative and clearly expressed, using
a few sentences (you should write no more than a single paragraph).
Tasks 1. Create a scatter plot examining the burials of males. Plot the
number of artifacts on the vertical axis and age at death on the horizontal
axis.
Task 2. Create a scatter plot examining the burials of females. Plot the
number of artifacts on the vertical axis and age at death on the horizontal
axis.
Task 3. In a few sentences, describe the trend(s) you see in each scatter
plot. (Make sure to discuss how the data is distributed in the graph and any
patterns or exceptions to a pattern.)
Task 4. In a few sentences, summarize how the mortuary treatment of
males contrasts with that of females as age at death increases based on the
trends you described in Task 3. Be sure to specifically reference data from
the graph and how it supports your interpretations.
Task 5. Explain the differences you see in male and female mortuary
treatments. A complete response will incorporate direct evidence plotted in
the scatter plots and will include a discussion of the concept of social status,
based on lectures and readings.

Instruction Sheet: Quantitative Mortuary Patterns Exercise

Be sure to follow all specific instructions provided for each task on page 2.
Excel Help:
If you are unfamiliar with Excel software or need a refresher on how to create
graphs and plots in excel, go to the following website:
http://qlp.utsa.edu/faculty/tutorials/
There you will find step-by-step tutorials for several different aspects of
Excel.
**HINT:
Make sure that the data you use to create the scatter plots (found in the
chart on page 1) are entered correctly into Excel. You can find an electronic
version of this assignment on Blackboard. From that document you can copy
and paste the data chart into Excel to ensure that you use the correct data.
If the data are not correct, you will not be able to create correct scatter plots.
Incorrect scatter plots will result in incorrect interpretations.
Report Guidelines:
All written portions of the assignment should be in complete sentences
and in 12 pt legible font (e.g. Times New Roman, Calibri, etc.)
Please pay attention to grammar and punctuation.
Always make sure that each new task is labeled and easy to recognize
in the document (ex. Task 1 or Task 3)
Always organize the Tasks in the order that they appear in the
directions. This means that you will need to integrate the table and
scatter plots you make in Excel into your Word document in the
appropriate places.
DO NOT hand-draw the scatter plots. Use Excel software (available on
all campus computers) to create the scatter plots.
Specific guidelines for scatter plots:
o Titles should explain all the information provided in the graph
o All axes should be labeled clearly and appropriately
o Keeping the scales of each scatter plot consistent as you
integrate them into the word document will make for better
representations from which you can make informed
interpretations.

Quantitative Mortuary Patterns Exercise Grading Rubric

5 Points
Task
1
Task
2
Task
3

Task
4

Task
5

Graph is correct; all

elements included (x/y
labels, meaningful
title).
Graph is correct; all
elements included (x/y
labels, meaningful
title).
Plot is fully described
noting overall trend
vs. outliers. Few
editing problems; text
is clearly written
Difference between
male and female
patterns is correct and
fully developed. Few
editing problems, text
is clearly written.
Clear understanding of
social status and
significance of
outliers; argument is
clearly developed. Few
editing problems, text
is clear.

3 Points

1 Point

Either graph is incorrectly

plotted or labels are missing.

Data in graph is
incorrect; title and axis
labels are missing

Either graph is incorrectly

plotted or labels are missing.

Data in graph is
incorrect; title and axis
labels are missing

Plot is adequately represented

though outliers are not clearly
distinguished from general
trend of graph. Text has some
editing problems; is somewhat
unclear and needs more than
one reading.
Difference between male and
female patterns is correct but
not well developed. Text has
editing problems; is unclear
and needs more than one
reading to understand.
Basic recognition of social
status. However, argument
needs clarification. Text has
editing problems; is unclear
and requires more than one
reading.

Plot is misrepresented.
Excessive editing errors,
text is unclear

Total Score:
(out of 25)

Difference between male

and female patterns is
misrepresented;
excessive editing errors,
text is unclear.
Does not distinguish
underlying social status
distinctions. Excessive
editing errors, text is
unclear.

Total Percentage Grade:

_____ / 25 =
________ %