Objectives: Ancestry and sex estimation using craniometric indices is an important aspect of skeletal identification process, as it limits the number of antemortem records used to compare with a postmortem profile and establish a positive identification. These indices are also affected by secular or temporal changes. So the aim of the study to explore the usefulness of indices for sex and ancestry estimation in North Indian population and effect of secular changes on these indices. Materials and methods:In present study two temporally different skull samples of the North Indian population have been taken and eighteen craniometric indices were calculated on the basis of 17 craniofacial measurements for both sexes to examine the temporal changes and their use in ancestry and sexual differenciation. Contemporary sample comprised of 158 skulls (110 male; 48 females) and subrecent 325 skulls (206 males and 119 females) with an age range of 20-68 years.Results: Craniofacial measurements showed significantly higher values in contemporary males and females. In males highly significant secular/temporal changes were observed in orbital index and transverse frontal index and to a lesser extent in foraman magnum and gnathic index. In females, highly significant differences were observed in cranial, vertical, auriculo vertical and longitudinal craniofacial index.Discussion: There is a lot of variability in Indian and non Indian populations so these indices can be used for ancestry estimation but not for sex discrimination due to poor classification rate. Moreover, the causes of these temporal variations with other issues have also been discussed.
Sex determination is a major challenge for forensic anthropologist in the medicolegal context. It constitutes initial step in personal identification from skeletal remains and is indispensable further to define age and stature of the deceased. There have been several studies on sex determination from different skeletal parts using osteometric and morphological approaches. Degree of sexual dimorphism and osteological standards vary across time and space. This requires need for valid population specific standards for sex determination. Skull is considered as the most discriminating after pelvis among skeletal parts.As in India, the population varies to a large extent, assortment of skeleton cannot be made representing the whole country in general; therefore, regional studies must be promoted. Each population group thus needs its own sex specific osteometric standards. No large scale study on North Indian skull was conducted. The aim of the present study is to provide the population specific sex discriminating osteometric standards to aid identification.A total of 483 crania (316 male and 167 females) with age range of 18-70 years of North Indian origin were studied using traditional osteometric methods. Twenty one traditional variables were measured. The p -value shows that all parameters were statistically significant and higher in males. The best parameters are bizygomatic breadth (BZBr) and mastoid bregma height (MBrHt) which were reflected by highest t values and highest classification accuracies i.e. 82.2 and 80.5% respectively. In stepwise analysis accuracy reached up to 84.75% with the selection of five variables named Bizygomatic Breadth (BZBr), Mastoid Bregma Height (MBrHt), Maximum Cranial Length (MaxCLt), Biauricular Breadth (BAUBr) and Maximum Cranial Breadth (MaxCBr). On the other hand, bizygomatic breadth (BZBr) alone provided a sex classification accuracy of 82.2 % in direct analysis.
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