Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

Document Type

Article

Anticipated Volume

92

Anticipated Issue

4

Abstract

Thirty-eight skull samples of ancient children were analyzed that were excavated from the Zaghunluq cemetery, which dates between 2600 and 1900 cal. yr BP. The orbit features of children during age changes and growth spurt periods were explored by comparing the orbital height, orbital breadth, orbital area, the values of the orbital index, and other measurements among different age groups. The analysis showed significant differences in orbital breadth between the five age groups (2 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-11 years, and 12-15 years), while differences in orbital height, orbital area, and orbital index were not significant. It was also found that the growth spurt period of orbital breadth Ⅰ was during 3-5 years of age, and the growth spurt period of orbital breadth Ⅱ occurred during 6-8 years of age. However, there were no significant age-related changes in orbital height and orbital area. Notably, the orbital height of a 2-year-old child has reached 92.7% of the adult size. This may elucidate the changes in the orbits of children due to age in ancient Xinjiang, China.

Share

COinS