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One for all and all for one: Linear regression from the mass of individual bones to assess human skeletal mass completeness

2016-07Journal article Restricted access
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dc.contributor.authorGonçalves, David
dc.contributor.authorCoelho, João d'Oliveira
dc.contributor.authorAcosta, Maria A.
dc.contributor.authorCoelho, Catarina
dc.contributor.authorCurate, Francisco
dc.contributor.authorFerreira, Maria Teresa
dc.contributor.authorGouveia, Márcia
dc.contributor.authorMakhoul, Calil
dc.contributor.authorPinto, Débora
dc.contributor.authorOliveira-Santos, Inês
dc.contributor.authorVassalo, Ana R.
dc.contributor.authorNavega, David
dc.contributor.authorCunha, Eugénia
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-07T15:56:25Z
dc.date.available2017-04-07T15:56:25Z
dc.date.issued2016-07
dc.description.abstractObjectivesComplete and accurate human skeletal inventory is seldom possible in archaeological and forensic cases involving severe fragmentation. In such cases, skeletal mass comparisons with published references may be used as an alternative to assess skeletal completeness but they are too general for a case-by-case routine analysis. The objective is to solve this issue by creating linear regression equations to estimate the total mass of a skeleton based on the mass of individual bones.Materials and MethodsTotal adult skeletal mass and individual mass of the clavicle, humerus, femur, patella, carpal, metacarpal, tarsal, and metatarsal bones were recorded in a sample of 60 skeletons from the 21st century identified skeletal collection (University of Coimbra). The sample included 32 females and 28 males with ages ranging from 31 to 96 years (mean=76.4; sd=14.8). Skeletal mass linear regression equations were calculated based on this sample.ResultsThe mass of individual bones was successfully used to predict the approximate total mass of the adult skeleton. The femur, humerus, and second metacarpal were the best predictors of total skeletal mass with root mean squared errors ranging from 292.9 to 346.1 g.DiscussionLinear regression was relatively successful at estimating adult skeletal mass. The non-normal distribution of the sample in terms of mass may have reduced the predictive power of the equations. These results have clear impact for bioanthropology, especially forensic anthropology, since this method may provide better estimates of the completeness of the skeleton or the minimum number of individuals. Am J Phys Anthropol 160:427-432, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/ajpa.22979
dc.identifier.issn0002-9483
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/9410
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.relation.isbasedonWOS:000378699600006
dc.titleOne for all and all for one: Linear regression from the mass of individual bones to assess human skeletal mass completeness
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.endPage432
oaire.citation.issue3
oaire.citation.startPage427
oaire.citation.titleAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology
oaire.citation.volume160
rcaap.rightsrestrictedAccess
rcaap.typearticle

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