Sex determination from femora in late antique sample from Eastern Adriatic coast (Salona necropolis)

Abstract

The determination of sex is one of the first steps in anthropological analysis. When skeletal remains are fragmented, the most useful approach is application of osteometric methods. The methods are population specific, and therefore require development of discriminant functions for each population group. The aim of this study was to test sexual dimorphism of femoral measurements and to calculate discriminant functions applicable for sex determination on fragmented skeletal remains on the late antique sample from the Eastern Adriatic coast (2 nd -6 th century AD). 214 randomly chosen skeletons from the excavation site Solin-Smiljanovac were analyzed. Sex and age were assessed using standard anthropological methods, and skeletons were examined for pathologic and traumatic changes. In the next step, we selected 27 female and 48 male skeletons free of peri-or post-mortem changes that could affect measurements Eight standard femoral measurements were taken. Sexual dimorphism was initially compared using independent sample t test, after which discriminant functions were computed. All femoral measurements showed statistically significant sexual dimorphism (p<0.001). Ten discriminant functions for every part of femur were calculated and obtained classification accuracy of 73.1-91.8%. This study reached relatively high classification, which will improve further analysis of the skeletal remains from the Salona necropolis. Due to similar population structure in the Roman period across the Adriatic coast, the discriminant functions could be applicable for all populations from the same period and area. This study also raised a few methodological questions showing that when creating discriminant functions we should consider not only the accuracy, but also the applicability based on the experience from the anthropology laboratory that considers the state of preservation and frequent pathology.

Sex estimation using measurements of the proximal femur in a historical population from Poland

“…Deriving the discriminant function based on the measurements of individuals whose sex was estimated using anthropological methods is prone to error. However, this approach is not new and skeletons with unknown sex were used e.g., for the creation of the first sex discrimination function for the Iron Age population from Iran, using dental measurements (Kazzazi and Kranioti 2018) or for calculating formula for late antique East Adriatic coast population (Jerković et al 2016). The need for metric methods for sex estimation is strong.…”

Sample specific sex estimation method using parameters around dominant nutrient foramina in unknown femur bones collection of contemporary Egyptians

“…Though our models are constrained by this relatively small sample of modern Egyptians, there seems a number of methods in the literature based on small sample size of poorly preserved archaeological assemblages (Dabbs, 2010; MacLaughlin & Bruce, 1985). Missing values reduce the available sample for the calculation of multivariate models (Cardoso, 2008; Jerković et al, 2016). Notwithstanding, Hora & Sládek, 2018 had demonstrated that models derived from a sample of estimated sex with a size as small as ( n = 30–34) could provide accurate and consistent sex classification in the whole population.…”

“…Although mid‐shaft measurements were reportedly accurate in sexing of femora, their application is not without caveats (Albanese et al, 2005; MacLaughlin and Bruce, 1985). There is uncertainty associated with determination of the mid‐shafts location due to difficulties in femur length estimation in cases of fragmentary remains and lack of anatomical landmarks (Jerković, Bašić, Kružić, & Anđelinović, 2016; Nakahashi & Nagai, 1986; Wrobel et al, 2002). Therefore, the present investigation seeks to develop a method based on nutrient foramina as a landmark for measurement in absence of both epiphyseal ends of femur.…”

The oldest evidence of calcific myonecrosis?

“…In the first step, we assessed the degree of preservation of remains and reconstructed biological profile of the person. Sex was assessed by examination of the pelvic traits (Phenice, 1969;Walker, 2005) and discriminant functions for femora (Jerković, Bašić, Kružić, & Anđelinović, 2016), and age of death was estimated using morphological changes on pubic symphysis (Brooks & Suchey, 1990) and degree of epiphyseal fusion (Schaefer, Black, & Scheuer, 2009). The average height of the person was estimated using maximum femoral length (Trotter & Gleser, 1952).…”