Postcranial morphology, nontraditional analysis

Abstract

Consideration of the full range of physiological influences on skeletal morphology can lead to a much richer and more accurate reconstruction of past lifeways and adaptations. Behavioral variation can be assessed through measurement of mechanically relevant structural parameters, including long‐bone diaphyseal cross‐sectional geometry. Comparison of changes occurring on different bone envelopes (endosteal versus periosteal) can give insights into systemic (dietary) versus more localized (mechanical) influences. Appreciation of varying developmental constraints on different features, as well as environmental influences such as climate, can help to explain differences in skeletal proportions.