Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

Document Type

Article

Anticipated Volume

92

Anticipated Issue

4

Abstract

Inferences in bioarchaeology and forensic contexts require mathematical stature estimation using long bone lengths. This study is in hand to identify predictors of femur length (FL) from epiphyseal and diaphysial width measurements that are not bound to assumptions of sex or laterality. Both standard and new measurements around dominant foramen nutricium (NF) were collected on modern femora (n=64) from Alexandria university unidentified skeletal Collection to compute linear regression models. Four equations were then validated on Ancient Egyptian sample (n=73) from Goldman’s Osteometric dataset to evaluate effect of sex subdivision on the prediction accuracy of FL and indirect stature estimation using Raxter’s formulae. Most of models reflected significant positive association r>0.60) between width variables and FL. Oddly, the distance from proximal end to NF correlated weakly with FL (r=0.34). The stepwise selected equations preferred measurements around NF to midshaft where the anteroposterior diameter was included in proximal fragment model (r=0.77) and circumference in diaphyseal fragment model (r=0.62). Tested equations performed consistently on the ancient Egyptian sample. Measurements from femoral proximal fragment are more reliable predictors than distal fragment with the exception of femur neck diameter. However, distal epicondylar breadth is a better predictor of FL in females than in males. Indirect stature estimation showed a reasonable degree of accuracy in both sexes. These models can be applied successfully in Contemporary and Ancient Egyptians fragmentary remains however, due to larger size of femora from Old Kingdom sample, they would be most applicable to individuals from the following dynasties.

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