The (hu)MANid program is a free, web-based software using mandibular metric and morphoscopic variables to estimate sex and ancestry. The database consists of 1,745 individuals from 15 populations (modern, historic, and prehistoric). The required use of a mandibulometer presents two limitations. It is an expensive piece of equipment not available in all labs, and many users do not have experience using a mandibulometer, so error can be high. To address this, three-dimensional surface scans (3D scans) provide an alternative method for data collection. Here, the authors assess the accuracy of the (hu)MANid program on a diverse sample, compare accuracy from 3D scans and physical measurements, and evaluate whether mandibulometer measurements increase classification rates. Six metric and morphoscopic variables were collected from 3D scans (Ntotal = 555) and from bone (Ntotal = 41). Three additional mandibulometer measurements were collected from bone. Mixture discriminant analysis and non-stepwise options were applied due to reported higher correct classification and no significant difference when using stepwise options. Test samples with matching reference groups from the digital measurements had higher than chance average correct classifications for ancestry and sex/ancestry combined. Pooled sexes had correct classifications higher than chance for all comparisons except females using digital measurements. Physical measurements had a higher correct classification rate than digital measurements despite the small sample size. Including mandibulometer measurements did not significantly increase classification rates for physical measurements. Results indicate that hu(MAN)id is better than chance but suggest additional testing due to a lack of diversity in the physical measurements.

It is difficult to accurately estimate sex and ancestry from incomplete skeletal remains; particularly when the skull and pelvis are absent. It is necessary to be able to accurately estimate a biological profile from multiple bones because skeletal remains are often found incomplete. Metatarsal bones are ideal candidates for estimation of sex and ancestry because they are more numerous than other post‐cranial bones and are usually found intact enclosed in shoes, protected from taphonomic influences. The goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of sexual and ancestral differences in metatarsal bones from a modern population. To evaluate these differences, we analyzed radiographs taken between 2003 and 2012, recording length and width measurements of metatarsal bones. We then performed discriminant function analysis to determine which measurements were most useful to classify sex and ancestry. We found that we could correctly classify sex and ancestry independently, 78.4% and 59.3% of the time, respectively; additionally 45.9% of individuals were correctly classified when sex and ancestry were pooled. In conclusion, our data suggests that there are sexual and ancestral differences present in metatarsal bones. Furthermore, our results suggest that a whole set of metatarsals is preferred to estimate sex and ancestry, with an emphasis placed on the first metatarsal bone.Grant Funding Source: LECOM Internal Grant