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The use of multivariate techniques in the study of skeletal populations
Author(s) -
Howells W. 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.1330310306
Subject(s) - multivariate statistics , univariate , multivariate analysis , context (archaeology) , population , evolutionary biology , dozen , biology , statistics , mathematics , paleontology , demography , sociology , arithmetic
A major problem in taxonomic or evolutionary studies (micro or macro) of populations through their skeletal remains is what to do about single specimens, or samples of half a dozen, or fragments of skeletons. Multivariate analysis makes possible finer distinctions of all sorts than does univariate analysis, including sex and population assignment, allowing such placement objectively when adequate samples of identified populations are available to form the multivariate context. The history and essential nature of multivariate analysis is described briefly, and examples of its application to single specimens (the Fish Hoek and Keilor skulls) are given.