Marta Alfonso-Durruty
Sociology, Anthropology & Social Work
Department
Kansas State University
Waters Hall 008
Manhattan KS 66506
Phone: (785)532-4982
A native Chilean Dr. Alfonso-Durruty has conducted research on human remains in Chile,
Easter Island, and Arkansas. A common emphasis in these studies has been the assessment
of the health status and degree of environmental and social adaptation of past populations.
Dr. Alfonso-Durruty has also investigated the health consequences of the transition
from hunter-gathering economies to agriculturalist ones, gender and social status
differences, and the degree of adaptational success of past populations.
For her Doctoral Project Dr. Alfonso-Durruty assessed the accuracy of Harris lines
as a non-specific stress marker. The results of this study has been published in the
American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Dr. Alfonso Durruty has also collaborated
in the Chaco Area Reproductive Ecology (CARE) project (C.A.R.E. Director; Dr. Valeggia). This longitudinal project includes anthropometric, nutritional, growth, maturation,
health, hormonal and life-history data. Working in this project has allowed Dr. Alfonso-Durruty
to bridge life-history theory and studies in living populations with the analysis
of life history in past populations.
Dr. Alfonso-Durruty is also an Editorial Board Member of Magallania, a peer-reviewed
journal published by Instituto Patagonia.