Biological anthropology

About: Biological anthropology is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1126 publications have been published within this topic receiving 12757 citations. The topic is also known as: biological anthropology & somatology.

The Hadza and the Iraqw in northern Tanzania: Dermatographical, Anthropological, Odontometrical and Osteological Approaches

Abstract: The dermatoglyphics, physical measurements, tooth size and dental arch measurements of 4 populations of Mangola are analyzed and the racial affinities of earlier inhabitants are discussed based on the human remains excavated from Gishimangeda cave and Sechikuencho cairns. The Iraqw, Datoga and the Hadza were investigated as representing the Hamitic, Nilotic and the Khoisan speaking people. The Iraqw and Datoga bear a close resemblance in physical features to the other members of the Hamitic or Caucasians as well as the Bantu speakers, while the Datoga are closer to the Bantu than the Iraqw do. On the other hand, the Hadza are quite different from the Iraqw and Datoga, and approach mostly to the North Bushmen and fairly resemble the neighbouring Bantu tribes. The Gishimangeda and Sechikuencho skeletal series can be dated to probably the 13th or 14th century and 18th or 19th century respectively. They are in most essencials hybrid population between the Medi terraneans and the Negroes, but are closer to the latter. The living Mangola peoples with such mixed physical trai ts are the Iraqw or Datoga among 4 populations examined by us. The occupant of Mangola during several centuries ago. therefore, can be suggested as the Nilotic or the Hamitic peoples, probably the former. The Hadza has not been attached linguistically and physically to any definite people. There are no trace of early Khoisanoid in this region.

Applications of sex estimation in paleoanthropology, bioarchaeology, and forensic anthropology

Abstract: Biological anthropologists encounter skeletonized remains of modern humans and our ancestors from time periods spanning thousands of millennia and from almost all geographic regions of the world. Discoveries range from fossilized remains of extinct Pliocene hominins like “Lucy” and “Ardi,” to more historic mortuary contexts only a few centuries removed from the present day. In addition, some biological anthropologists routinely encounter skeletal remains from modern forensic contexts and are required to perform analyses relevant to the process of human identification. In all of these cases, and countless other examples drawn from biological anthropology, sex is a primary piece of information that researchers seek to tease out from the skeletonized remains on their laboratory table. In this chapter, we discuss why paleoanthropologists, bioarchaeologists, and forensic anthropologists are interested in estimating sex from skeletal remains and the limitations they each face in doing so.