An analysis of crania from Tell‐Duweir using multiple discriminant functions

Abstract

Historical and archaelogical evidence suggests that the Iron Age biblical city of Lachish had a multinational population of diverse geographical origins. A multivariate analysis of crania, using canonical discriminant functions and metric variables, tends to confirm this. The approach employed stresses that population discriminant analysis studies should be both biologically and statistically legitimate. An ecological interpretation of the data suggests a research design for analyzing the affinities of cranial series. Similarities probably should be assessed in an analytical space containing the widest possible range of variation.

Studies of ancient crania from northern Africa

“…Egyptians (Woo, 19301, (161 Kerma, 12th-13th Dyn. Nubians (Collett, 1933), (18) Teita, East Africans (Kitson, 19311, (20) Nagada, predynastic Egyptians (Fawcett and Lee, 19021, (22) Gaboon, West Central Africans (Bennington and Pearson, 19111, (24) Poundbury, Romano-British, southern England (Keita, 1988). The museums of origin and means and standard deviations for all series are given in Keita (1988).…”

“…Thirteen metric variables with a demonstrated genetic basis by heritability or other studies and that cover all craniofacial embryological regions (Keita, 1988) are employed in the core analysis (Table 1). Tenand seven-variable subset designs are also evaluated.…”

“…Crania were selected following previously described criteria (Keita, 1988). Only male crania were available for all series in sufficient numbers.…”

“…The territorial map in Keita (1988) shows the late dynastic northern Egyptian "E" series to be similar to a subset of Middle Eastern crania. Harris and Weeks (19731, imply that Old Kingdom Giza crania were more like Nubians.…”

Were There Commercial Communications between Prehistoric Harappans and African Populations?

“…Keita (1988) lists 13 craniofacial components with significant heritability that are useful in population affinity assessment. Sufficient data for nine of these measurements (Maximum Cranial Length, Maxi ranial Breadth, Basio-Bregma Height, Bizygomatic Breadth, Upper Facial Height, Minimum Frontal Breadth, Minimum Frontal Breadth, Nasal Height, Nasal Breadth) were recorded for females of ten other Harappan females.…”