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Sex determination using the first thoracic vertebra in 19th century American and ancient Nubian humans

Date

2010

Authors

Cundiff, Charles, author
Magennis, Ann, advisor
France, Diane L., advisor
LaBelle, Jason, committee member
Chapman, Phillip, committee member

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Abstract

Many metric sex determination methods exist and have proven to be useful (Albanese 2003; Albanese et al. 2008; France 1998; Freiman et al. 2008; Frutos 2002; Frutos 2005; Gapert et al. 2009; Giles and Elliot 1963; Ozer and Katayama 2008; Ozer et al. 2006; Pastor 2005; Phenice 1969; Yu et al. 2008). Most metric sex determination methods rely on differences in stature and musculature between the sexes. The first thoracic vertebra is of interest because of its ease of identification and location at the boundary of many muscle groups. Linear measurements were taken on 161 T 1s from two osteological collections housed in Colorado. The first population, housed at CU Boulder, is derived from cemeteries excavated in Kulubnarti, Sudan. Burials in from this sample range from c.a. 550 AD to c.a. 1500 AD. The second population, housed at CSU Fort Collins, are remains from the cemetery of an asylum locate in Pueblo Colorado in the late 19th century. A linear function was used to determine the best classifying features of the T 1. From the 4 best classifiers (length of the transverse process, length of the spinous process, body diameter and coronal breadth of the vertebral foramen) a discriminant function was created for purposes of classification. Cross-validated results for the entire population give an accuracy of 86.76% for females and 89.25% accuracy for males. For the CSU (American) population 92.31% of females were classified correctly while 95.56% of males were correctly classified. For the CU (Nubian) population 92.59% of females were correctly classified as female with 85.71% being correctly classified male.

Description

Covers not scanned.
Print version deaccessioned 2022.

Rights Access

Subject

Human remains (Archaeology) -- Sex determination
Thoracic vertebrae

Citation

Associated Publications