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Stature and body mass estimation from skeletal remains in the European Holocene
Author(s) -
Ruff Christopher B.,
Holt Brigitte M.,
Niskanen Markku,
Sladék Vladimir,
Berner Margit,
Garofalo Evan,
Garvin Heather M.,
Hora Martin,
Maijanen Heli,
Niinimäki Sirpa,
Salo Kati,
Schuplerová Eliŝka,
Tompkins Dannielle
Publication year - 2012
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.22087
Subject(s) - estimation , holocene , forensic anthropology , geodesy , geology , demography , geography , paleontology , archaeology , management , sociology , economics
Abstract Techniques that are currently available for estimating stature and body mass from European skeletal remains are all subject to various limitations. Here, we develop new prediction equations based on large skeletal samples representing much of the continent and temporal periods ranging from the Mesolithic to the 20th century. Anatomical reconstruction of stature is carried out for 501 individuals, and body mass is calculated from estimated stature and biiliac breadth in 1,145 individuals. These data are used to derive stature estimation formulae based on long bone lengths and body mass estimation formulae based on femoral head breadth. Prediction accuracy is superior to that of previously available methods. No systematic geographic or temporal variation in prediction errors is apparent, except in tibial estimation of stature, where northern and southern European formulae are necessary because of the presence of relatively longer tibiae in southern samples. Thus, these equations should bebroadly applicable to European Holocene skeletal samples. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.