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Microscopic age determination of human skeletons including an unknown but calculable variable
Author(s) -
Wallin Johan A.,
Tkocz Izabella,
Kristensen Gustav
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.1390040409
Subject(s) - osteon , covariance matrix , covariance , mathematics , statistics , standard deviation , bone matrix , variable (mathematics) , forensic anthropology , cortical bone , anatomy , medicine , mathematical analysis , geography , cartilage , archaeology
Histomorphometric semi‐automatic image analysis of cross‐sections of 101 femoral diaphyseal bone sections were performed to reconsider to what degree osteon remodelling in the outer cortex is affected by age. The data were analysed statistically using the generalized least squares method. The model estimation, which includes the covariance matrix of four single equation residuals, improves the accuracy of age determination. The standard deviation, however, of age prediction remains 12.58 years. An experimental split of the data was made in order to demonstrate that the use of subgroups gives a false impression of higher precision of age determination. The present study demonstrates that determination of age at death through microscopic bone morphometry is considerably less precise than generally stated in the literature.