Sex determination of prehistoric central California skeletal remains using discriminant analysis of the femur and humerus

Abstract

A large sample (n = 370) of Central California prehistoric skeletal remains was analyzed for sexual dimorphism of long bones using nine femoral and nine humeral dimensions. Sex of all individuals was assessed using traits of the os pubis. Discriminant analysis was done separately for the robust Early Horizon sample and the Middle/Late Horizon sample. Use of multiple variables did not produce appreciably better results over the use of several of the best variables, analyzed singly. Attention is focused on measurements of maximum diameter femoral head, femoral bicondylar width, and diameter of the humeral head (transverse or vertical). These variables produce excellent separation of the sexes with about 90% accuracy for the Middle/Late Horizon sample. They have been overlooked in the recent literature in which the relative values of length versus midshaft dimensions are debated. The measurements found to be superior in this study are taken at the ends of the bones where durability of these regions is indicated by large sample sizes found in this study. We suggest workers redirect their focus from the midshaft to the ends of the long bones. The discriminant analyses presented here have greater accuracy than most claims for either long bone or cranial sex determination. These standards, based on two samples with differing robusticity, may have applicability for workers in other areas who lack large skeletal samples.

Sex determination from femur using length of femur in Maharashtra

“…Ref and lower than American black [3] and South African White [6] which is comparable with values seen in American whites [3] , Californian Samples.…”

Sexual determination of long bones in recent Japanese

“…Since Dwight (1904/05) pointed this out almost a century ago, the importance of the diameters of the epiphyseal parts has been accounted for by previous studies (e.g. Dittrick and Suchey, 1986). In the present study, it was further found that sexual differences are especially strong in the breadth diameters of the elbow and knee joints.…”

“…In particular, the head diameters of the humerus and femur have previously been reported as good indicators of sex (Dibennardo and Taylor, 1983;Dittrick and Suchey, 1986;Liu, 1989;Liu et al, 1989;Iscan et al, 1998;Mall et al, 2001). In the present study, these variables were not as good a discriminator as the breadths of the elbow or knee joints.…”

“…Liu et al (1989) investigated three lower limb bones, the femur, tibia, and fibula. Dittrick and Suchey (1986) studied nine variables of the femur and nine variables of the humerus. Some studies considered all the long bones in their assessments of sex (Hanihara, 1958;Nakahashi and Nagai, 1986;Tagaya, 1987;Safont et al, 2000).…”

“…pointed out either directly or indirectly as good for sexing (Dwight, 1904/05;Dittrick and Suchey, 1986;Liu, 1989;Iscan et al, 1998;Mall et al, 2001). Liu (1989) and Mall et al (2001) pointed out the discriminatory power of radial head diameters.…”