Modern European Cranial Variables and Blood Polymorphisms Show Comparable Spatial Patterns

Document Type

Article

Authors

Rosalind M. Harding, State University of New York

Abstract

Spatial patterns in cranial traits for modem European populations are compared with patterns described by Sokal et al. (1989) for blood polymorphisms. Spatial patterns in these variables are described from both one-dimensional and directional autocorrelation correlograms. Manhattan distances computed among onedimensional correlograms are used (1) to cluster variables with similar patterns and (2) to test the hypothesis that these clusters are to some extent accounted for by the type of variable. The onedimensional correlograms for cranial traits do not show a significant contrast with either red cell antigens or the set of blood polymorphisms that excludes HLA. The only contrast that accounts for any of the cluster structure among one-dimensional correlograms is that between HLA and non-HLA variables. A cluster analysis of the directional correlograms demonstrates that cranial traits reflect patterns comparable to those for blood polymorphisms. This finding implies that patterns in cranial variables can be accounted for by the same, or similar, population processes as those inferred from patterns in blood polymorphisms. The implications of this finding for the likely origin of the northwest-southeast cline seen in some modem blood polymorphisms and modem cranial variables, but not in Neolithic cranial variables, are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Harding, Rosalind M. (1990) "Modern European Cranial Variables and Blood Polymorphisms Show Comparable Spatial Patterns," Human Biology: Vol. 62: Iss. 6, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol62/iss6/1