Abstract
Body mass estimates are integral to a wide range of inferences in paleoanthropology. Most techniques employ postcranial elements, but predictive equations based on cranial variables have also been developed. Three studies currently provide regression equations for estimating mass from cranial variables, but none of the equations has been tested on samples of known mass. Nor have the equations been compared to each other in terms of performance. Consequently, this study assessed the performance of existing cranial equations using computed tomography scans from a large, documented sample of modern humans of known body mass. Virtual models of the skull were reconstructed and measured using computer software, and the resulting variables were entered into three sets of published regression equations. Estimated and known body masses were then compared. For most equations, prediction errors were high and few individuals were estimated within ±20% of their known mass. Only one equation satisfied the accuracy criteria. In addition, variables that had been previously argued to be good predictors of mass in hominins, including humans, did not estimate mass reliably. These results have important implications for paleoanthropology. In particular, they emphasize the need to develop new equations for estimating fossil hominin body mass from cranial variables.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 201-214 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | American Journal of Physical Anthropology |
Volume | 154 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 26 Feb 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2014 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Funded by
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Graduate Student Scholarship. Grant Number: #767-2009-1887 3
Simon Fraser University
Canada Research Chairs Program
Canada Foundation for Innovation
British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
Simon Fraser University
Keywords
- body mass
- hominin
- paleoanthropology
- osteology