Premium
A method for assessment of maximum long bone length and living stature from fragmentary long bones
Author(s) -
Steele D. Gentry,
McKern Thomas W.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330310211
Subject(s) - femur , prehistory , humerus , estimation , tibia , sample (material) , long bone , geography , statistics , mathematics , biology , archaeology , anatomy , paleontology , engineering , chemistry , systems engineering , chromatography
The proper analysis of prehistoric skeletal populations includes estimated individual statures and this estimation usually depends on the presence of one or more complete long bones, a condition that is too often rare. Although a number of techniques have been devised to utilize fragmentary long bones for stature estimations, the results have not produced the desired accuracy. The present paper attempts to refine and expand Müller's method by applying more up‐to‐date statistical procedures as well as exercising stricter control of the sample. Using a sample of 117 prehistoric Indians from various archeological sites in the southeastern United States, regression formulae were established for specified segments of the femur, humerus, and tibia to aid in the estimation of total long bone lengths from fragmentary remains. Once total length has been determined, it is possible to calculate living stature of the individual with a reasonable degree of accuracy.