Non-metric traits and anatomical variants that can mimic trauma in the human skeleton

Mann, Robert W.; Hunt, David

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.05.039

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Thirty‐three cranial and mandibular nonmetric traits were recorded (Table 3). These traits were chosen as they were successfully used in several other works to assess biological distances between archaeological samples (e.g., Blom et al, 1998; Movsesian & Vagner‐Sapukhina, 2021; Nikita et al, 2012; Ricaut et al, 2010; Sutter & Mertz, 2004; Tyrell, 2000) and are well described in the literature (Buikstra & Ubelaker, 1994; Hauser & De Stefano, 1989; Mann et al, 2016). Each trait was scored as presence/absence.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biological distances between Late Holocene hunter‐gatherers from the lower Paraná wetland (Argentina)

Mazza

2022

American J Hum Biol

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Introduction This study assesses the biological affinity between Late Holocene hunter‐gatherers that inhabited the region of the lower Paraná wetland (Argentina) at the end of the Late Holocene (1800–700 years BP). Methods Cranial nonmetric traits were registered in 159 adult individuals of both sexes. Biodistances were estimated between environmental and archaeological units through Smith's Mean Measure of Divergence, Mahalanobis distance, multidimensional scaling, Fst index, and R‐matrix. Biological distances concerning temporal and geographic distances between the archaeological sites were also evaluated through Mantel and partial Mantel tests. Results The environmental units showed statistically significant biodistances according to a distance spatial pattern but low genetic differentiation between groups. Additionally, some archaeological sites with median radiocarbon dates around 700 years BP also presented statistically significant biodistances. Conclusions Gene flow and genetic drift could be responsible for the observed biodistance results. These processes gave rise to different subpopulations of hunter‐gatherers with a shared material culture, whose territorial limits could have been reinforced around 700 years BP or earlier.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“… a (1) Hauser & De Stefano, 1989; (2) Nikita et al, 2012; (3) Buikstra & Ubelaker, 1994; (4) Mann et al, 2016. …”

Section: Methodsunclassified

Biological distances between Late Holocene hunter‐gatherers from the lower Paraná wetland (Argentina)

Mazza

2022

American J Hum Biol

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“…In addition to the morphological features extensively used for sex and ancestry estimation [9,10], the human cranium holds an enormous array of anatomical variants that are known as non-metric (or discontinuous/discrete/epigenetic) traits. These present as a wide range of differences in the morphology and number of foramina, tubercles, ossicles, grooves, and sutures [11] and they usually represent deviations from the normal skeletal development [12]. Berry and Berry [13] first investigated the incidence of non-metric traits of the human cranium in eight different skeletal populations from archeological settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thereon, non-metric variants have been used to calculate the biological distance between populations and relatedness between individuals [13][14][15][16]. In forensic anthropology, a sound acquaintance with non-metric traits is essential to differentiate normal from pathological anatomy, as some traits can mimic pathological conditions or traumatic injuries of the skeleton [11,17]. In clinical medicine, variability of these traits among individuals influences surgical procedures, i.e., the correct localization of foramina for the passage of neurovascular structures might prevent damage when anesthesia is performed [18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the potential of cranial non-metric traits as a tool for personal identification: the never-ending dilemma

et al. 2021

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Forensic anthropologists tasked with identification of skeletal remains often have to set up new strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional individualizing markers. A sound acquaintance with non-metric traits is essential for a reliable distinction between normal variations and pathological or traumatic conditions, yet the role of cranial variants in the identification process is still somehow ill-defined. One hundred crania (50 males and 50 females) of known sex and age were selected from the Collezione Antropologica LABANOF (a documented contemporary skeletal collection) and non-metric traits were scored as present or absent and by side. The frequencies of 13 traits were used to calculate the compound probabilities to find an individual with an exact combination of cranial features in the worldwide population. The probabilities of the majority of the individuals (53%) are within the 1 out of 10 million–1 out of 1 million interval. However, a fair number of subjects (25%) of the sample have the probabilities falling into the 1 out of 1 billion–1 out of 100 million interval, while the probabilities of a small portion of the sample (10%) are less than 1 out of 1 billion. This pilot study illustrates that some combinations of cranial variants are quite rare and may represent potential evidence to discern presumptive identifications, when an appropriate set of traits is selected and antemortem data are available for comparison. However, further research on larger and various samples is needed to confirm or discard the use of combinations of cranial non-metric traits as individualizing markers.

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“…12 One of the recent studies highlighted that some of the nonmetric variants or minor anatomic variants might be mistaken as a result. 13 However, a piece of information that has been accumulated so far and similarity with the nonmetric traits and typical anatomy of the skeleton of humans will better exhibit analysts' willingness to adjust nonmetric traits, including differentiation and identification of skeletal analysis.…”

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Nonmetric Variants of Anatolian Crania: A Preliminary Study

Elbizim

Ortuğ

Liman

et al. 2022

Journal of Craniofacial Surgery

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Analysis of nonmetric cranial variants has been essential for identifying the human population through osteologic analysis and genetic affinities. This study aimed to examine the nonmetric cranial variants to evaluate differences among sex and side correlations in Anatolian dry skulls. This study was carried out on 50 Anatolian adult dry human skulls (22 males, 28 females) with suitable features (nonfractured and/or with necessary features) out of a total of 97 dry skulls. After sex analysis, each skull was photographed from the norma frontalis, lateralis, inferior, and superior. Eleven nonmetrical cranial variants were investigated. The cranial variants and side incidences were analyzed to determine their sex differences and interside correlations. After the classification, traits were marked as "present" or "absent" on the charts. Some variants in female crania were seen more frequently than in males. Most of the variants such as the supraorbital notch, infraorbital and zygomaticofacial foramen, showed high correlations between the right and left sides. Overall, there were no statistically significant sex or side differences found in the Anatolian crania.

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Non-metric traits and anatomical variants that can mimic trauma in the human skeleton

Cited by 11 publications

References 34 publications

Biological distances between Late Holocene hunter‐gatherers from the lower Paraná wetland (Argentina)

Biological distances between Late Holocene hunter‐gatherers from the lower Paraná wetland (Argentina)

Exploring the potential of cranial non-metric traits as a tool for personal identification: the never-ending dilemma

Nonmetric Variants of Anatolian Crania: A Preliminary Study

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