Estimating diaphyseal length from fragmentary subadult skeletal remains: Implications for palaeodemographic reconstructions of a southern Ontario ossuary

Abstract

Fragmentary skeletal remains are a significant problem for osteologists attempting to reconstruct individuals or populations. This problem is further aggravated by sites yielding commingled remains, such as are recovered from the large protohistoric and historic ossuaries from southern Ontario, for which individual methods of age estimation and sex determination cannot be used concurrently. While some attention has been given to the estimation of long bone length from fragmentary, adult remains, little attention has been given to the equally important problem of fragmentary long bones in subadult assemblages. Analysis of data on diaphyseal length is a crucial aspect of reconstructing subadult palaeodemographic profiles, particularly for ossuary collections where dental remains are not associated with individuals and are often less represented than long bones. Such analysis also aids in the assessment of conditions of past population health. This study reports the results of several regression techniques used to estimate diaphyseal length from shaft-end breadths. Data collected from two southern Ontario ossuary samples were compiled to calculate the regression equations. Reliability of these equations and implications for palaeodemographic profiles are discussed.

Morphometric Study of the Humerus Segments in Indian Population

“…Statures estimated from the human skeletal remains is an important step in assessing health and general body size trends among the given populations (Hoppa & Gruspier, 1996) and also have an important role in the identification of missing persons in to medico-legal investigations (Ross & Konigsberg, 2002;Wright & Vasquez, 2003).…”

Age estimation of immature human skeletal remains from the metaphyseal and epiphyseal widths of the long bones in the post‐natal period

“…Hoppa and Gruspier (1996) had previously provided a means to estimate the length of the long bones from metaphyseal measurements, but that created problems for age estimation with a double estimate and compounded prediction errors. Hoppa and Gruspier (1996) had previously provided a means to estimate the length of the long bones from metaphyseal measurements, but that created problems for age estimation with a double estimate and compounded prediction errors.…”

“…Although methods that rely on long bone length are not considered as accurate as those that rely on dental development, alternative means for age estimation are a necessity because dental indicators may not always be available or accessible. Hoppa and Gruspier (1996) developed a method of age estimation based on the approximation of long bone diaphyseal length from metaphyseal dimensions. Hoppa and Gruspier (1996) developed a method of age estimation based on the approximation of long bone diaphyseal length from metaphyseal dimensions.…”

Mortality Profiles of Hunter-Gatherer Societies: A Case Study from the Eastern Pampa-Patagonia Transition (Argentina) During the Final Late Holocene

“…Different quantitative units were calculated such as minimum number of individuals (MNI) and minimum number of elements (Lyman, ). This analysis included complete bones, bone fragments and also dental elements in order to achieve a more precise quantification of the sample (Ubelaker, ; Hoppa & Gruspier, ).…”

“…Different quantitative units were calculated such as minimum number of individuals (MNI) and minimum number of elements (Lyman, 1994). This analysis included complete bones, bone fragments and also dental elements in order to achieve a more precise quantification of the sample (Ubelaker, 1974;Hoppa & Gruspier, 1996). Sex determination was made by macroscopic observations on different qualitative and/or morphological features in bone elements corresponding to individuals older than 15 years.…”