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Studies of hunter–gatherer locomotion inform a wide range of academic fields, from human behavioural ecology and hominin evolution to sports science and evolutionary health. Despite celebrated ethnographic examples of hunter–gatherer locomotor proficiency in running, climbing, swimming and diving, there has been limited systematic analysis of cross-cultural variation in hunter–gatherer locomotor versatility. We conducted a systematic cross-cultural analysis of hunter–gatherer locomotion, coding locomotor behaviour from over 900 ethnographic documents. Our results indicated that high levels of locomotor versatility are common among hunter–gatherers, and that proficiency of running, climbing, swimming and diving is found in societies across the geographical and ecological breadth of the sample. Each locomotor modality was found to be relevant not only to food acquisition but also in leisure, ritual and violent conflict. Our results also indicated the prevalence of both male and female engagement within each locomotor modality, with climbing being the only modality to possess a notable bias towards male engagement in a substantial proportion of societies. The widespread habituality and functional significance of diverse locomotor proficiency in hunter–gatherers suggests that locomotor versatility represents a dimension of human adaptive lability, playing a major role in the ability of hunter–gatherers to thrive in almost every global ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteological data, such as biological sex, constitute a base for research in paleodemography and palaeopathology, as well as for understanding past socio-cultural practices. Despite extensive research efforts concerning cremated human remains over the past decades, an internationally acknowledged, standardized osteological protocol is not fully agreed upon. Furthermore, assessing cremation research practices from the literature is challenging because analysis reports are often written in the national languages of practitioners, which makes them difficult to access by an international audience. This study addresses this gap by directly reaching out to experts working with cremated human remains through an online questionnaire in Lime Survey. The aim is to identify and characterize patterns in cremation analysis practices. A particular emphasis was put on the methods of biological sex estimation. While the significance of these data is widely acknowledged, the ways in which they are obtained in practice are seldom examined. The results of this survey reveal an absence of standardization in protocols of analysis, and data collection, as well as in reporting on the cremated remains in publications and reports. Notably, the findings reveal regional preferences in methodological choices and inconsistent institutional training. A majority of respondents expressed a preference for traditional morphological methods over recently published metric and alternative methods for sex estimation. These variations underscore the complexity of establishing standardized cremation analysis protocols and highlight the importance of considering regional contexts and training in shaping future research practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A central goal of biological anthropology is connecting environmental variation to differences in host physiology, biology, health, and evolution. The microbiome represents a valuable pathway for studying how variation in host environments impacts health outcomes. While there are many resources for learning about methods related to microbiome sample collection, laboratory analyses, and genetic sequencing, there are fewer dedicated to helping researchers navigate the dense portfolio of bioinformatics and statistical approaches for analyzing microbiome data. Those that do exist are rarely related to questions in biological anthropology and instead are often focused on human biomedicine. To address this gap, we expand on existing tutorials and provide a "road map" to aid biological anthropologists in understanding, selecting, and deploying the data analysis and visualization methods that are most appropriate for their specific research questions. Leveraging an existing dataset of fecal samples and survey data collected from wild geladas living in Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia (Baniel et al., 2021), this paper guides researchers toward answering three questions related to variation in the gut microbiome across host and environmental factors. By providing explanations, examples, and a reproducible workflow for different analytic methods, we move beyond the theoretical benefits of considering the microbiome within anthropological research and instead present researchers with a guide for applying microbiome science to their work. This paper makes microbiome science more accessible to biological anthropologists and paves the way for continued research into the microbiome's role in the ecology, evolution, and health of human and non‐human primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating the biological sex is one of the key objectives in a forensic investigation involving unidentified human skeletal remains. The femur is sexually dimorphic and has been extensively employed for the assessment of sex in different populations. The purposes of this article include a detailed macroanatomical characterization of the femur in a modern reference sample of the Spanish population (N = 226; Cemetery of San José in Granada, housed in the Physical Anthropology Laboratory of the University of Granada), based on 15 measurements of the proximal, distal and diaphyseal regions, and the development of univariable and multivariable models that enable the prediction of sex from complete or fragmentary femora. Univariable models were developed with C4.5, a decision-tree algorithm. Furthermore, univariable and multivariable models were generated through logistic regression (LR) with stepwise selection procedures. The models were able to correctly estimate sex in up to 91.2% of the individuals, providing high classification accuracy and low bias under cross-validation. Logistic regression models provide a probabilistic estimate of sex, that acknowledges both the Daubert standard and the fact that biological sex is not strictly dichotomous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios sobre Cuerpos, Emociones y Sociedad is the property of Revista Latinoamericana de Estudios sobre Cuerpos, Emociones y Sociedad and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper offers a critical evaluation of the arguments that Kleingeld and Bernasconi used to support their claims regarding the idea that Immanuel Kant held racist beliefs. Firstly, we will criticize the views on which they agree, aiming to emphasize our understanding of Kant’s thoughts on race. Secondly, we will assess the significance of Kant’s draft for Towards Perpetual Peace when considering the debate over Kant’s racism, and show that Bernasconi’s interpretation - according to which Kant presented racist views in the third Critique and in his writings on history - is problematic. Although we will not systematically present our understanding of Kant’s thoughts on race, our critique of Kleingeld’s and Bernasconi’s claims will reflect our basic views: Kant was not a racist, and he never advocated for slavery and colonization. Kleingeld is right to insist that we must interpret Kant’s thoughts on race diachronically, as it is clear that his views evolved over the course of his life, but did not fundamentally change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses the controversial history of how skeletons and sacred objects from Indigenous cultures ended up in museum collections, focusing on specific incidents involving the Quai Branly Museum in Paris and European scholars like Charles Rabot and János Jankó. The text highlights the ethical concerns and criticisms surrounding the colonial acquisition of these objects, shedding light on the complex dynamics of power, cultural appropriation, and exploitation in ethnographic practices. It emphasizes the importance of respecting Indigenous perspectives and engaging in collaborative research practices to rectify past wrongs and avoid perpetuating harm in the field of ethnology and folkloristics. [Extracted from the article]

Organ–skeleton relationships are understudied in biological anthropology. The torso skeleton is often used to infer the organ size and evolution in hominins; ribcage "types", in particular, are used to infer the abdominal organ size in hominins. This study is a quantitative examination of the relationship between the lower ribcage and two organs: the liver and the intestines ("gut") in humans. Specifically, we test whether the ribcage breadth, shape, and "flare", at the level of rib 10, covaries with the liver volume and gut volume in Homo sapiens. Liver size, gut size, and ribcage measurements are taken from CT scans (N = 61). The results show sex differences in the gut–ribcage relationship. The gut volume is associated with ribcage breadth and flare in both sexes. The liver volume is not associated with any ribcage measurements. We conclude that sex differences in the organ–skeleton relationship complicate the previous simplistic view that the size of the liver or the gut could be inferred through a fossil's ribcage type. Biological anthropologists should continue to explore sex differences in organ–skeleton relationships, when attempting to understand the evolution of visceral organs and the torso. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The voyage and subsequent mutiny associated with the wrecking of the VOC retourschip "Batavia" (1629) in the Houtman Abrolhos, off the western coast of Australia, represents one of the earliest documented European encounters with Australia. Much of our understanding of events surrounding the mutiny is detailed in a rich historical record, supplemented in the modern period with targeted archaeological research. Most recently, a large-scale multidisciplinary project, 'Shipwrecks of the Roaring Forties' (2014–2019), resulted in the archaeological excavation and analysis of a further 11 individuals on Beacon Island, long dubbed 'Batavia's Graveyard', where the survivors of the wrecking spent several months trying to survive. The latter work brings the total number of individuals recovered from Beacon Island to 21. The present paper considers research undertaken on Beacon Island between 2015 and 2018, specific to the archaeological excavation and analysis of four individuals, designated BIB-11 to BIB-14. These burials represent the first discovery of human remains on the Island through archaeological investigations and for which their burial context and physical integrity had not been compromised by prior human actions, intentional or otherwise. The archaeological and biological anthropological interpretation of these individuals and their burial context, relative to the other sites excavated on the Island, facilitates new and significant insight into these people and the events surrounding their untimely demise on Beacon Island in the early seventeenth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to reduce subjectivity bias in scoring dental macrowear quantity and direction using the Brabant index, which previously relied solely on written descriptions. To achieve this, we present a new, optimized visual guide incorporating buccal and lingual scores. The optimization process involved conceptualizing and illustrating a visual guide using Holocene southern African hunter‐gatherer and herder teeth, featuring both buccal and lingual scores for multicuspid teeth. The guide was hand‐drawn using a stippling technique and digitized to depict surface details for each wear stage and tooth type. We conducted intra‐ and inter‐observer assessments to evaluate the optimized method using both the original and optimized Brabant indices. Statistical analysis was performed in R using Cohen's kappa for direction and Cohen's weighted kappa for quantity. Intra‐observer results for the original method yielded kappa values of 0.84 for direction and 0.94 for quantity, while the optimized version both resulted in improved values of 0.99. Inter‐observer results revealed some differences between an inexperienced and an experienced observer. The inexperienced observer achieved kappa scores of 0.20 for direction and 0.86 for quantity with the original method, and 0.17 and 0.80, respectively, with the optimized version. The experienced observer's results using the original index were 0.66 for direction and 0.89 for quantity, and 0.75 and 0.96, respectively, with the optimized version. These findings demonstrate that the optimized method enhances data reliability for experienced observers, highlighting the value of a published visual guide and multicuspid scoring adjustments. However, reduced or unappreciable changes in accuracies for the inexperienced observer illustrate the need for dental expertise when scoring for dental wear, even with a modified method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissertation "Ein Beitrag zur Anthropologie der Juden" (A Contribution to the Anthropology of the Jews) by Berhard Blechmann was the first major study in physical anthropology that focused on the examination of Jews. It has been hitherto discussed as an early example of the othering of Jews in German nineteenth-century anthropology. Based on close reading and by exploring the circumstances of its writing, this essay reclassifies the dissertation in several ways. It emerges that the work belongs in the Russian (Baltic) academic and political context, and that Blechmann was Jewish. With this new perspective, the article discusses Blechmann's conception of what constitutes a scientific approach to anthropology and to Jews as a racial group. Moreover, it sheds light on the transnational space in which the dissertation was created and enquires into Blechmann's self-conception as a Jew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La déformation artificielle du crâne est une pratique ubiquitaire qui consiste à utiliser des dispositifs externes pour modifier la forme de la tête des nouveau-nés. Les deux principaux types de déformation sont les déformations antéropostérieures (« têtes plates ») et les déformations circonférentielles (« têtes longues »). Les outils de déformation exercent principalement des forces mécaniques sur le front et l'occiput. La forme du front est ainsi au premier plan dans le diagnostic, la classification et la compréhension des motifs culturels motivant ces pratiques. Les déformations intentionnelles du crâne ont aujourd'hui disparu mais elles ont persisté jusqu'au début du vingtième siècle, notamment en France. De nombreuses données anthropologiques et historiques sont disponibles et permettent d'explorer l'origine, la nature, les motivations et les conséquences de ces pratiques dans notre pays. Artificial skull deformations were performed in all cultures since Prehistoric times using external devices, to permanently modify the shape of the head of newborns. Two types of deformations are reported: (1) antero-posterior deformations ("flat heads") and (2) circumferential deformations ("long heads"). Deformation devices exert mechanical forces on the forehead and the occiput: forehead shape is thus a major source of information for diagnosis, classification and on the culture significance of artificial skull deformations. France was the major European country for artificial skull deformations, and Toulouse was the epicenter of this practice. Numerous dry skulls and exceptional historical data are available to explore the origins, the mechanisms, the motivations, and the consequences of "Toulouse" artificial skull deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

В статье представлены результаты исследования мужского черепа со следами трепанации. Погребение, где обнаружен краниум, относится к Ходжалы-Кедабекской археологической культуре эпохи поздней бронзы-раннего железа и было выявлено в ходе археологических раскопок Я.И. Гуммеля в Гёйгёльском районе. Трепанационное отверстие, общими размерами 2,4 × 2 см, округлой формы, расположено на венечном шве, на соединении лобной и левой теменной кости. Краниотомия была совершена методом скобления и прорезывания. На черепе присутствуют следы воспалительной реакции и заживления кости. Пациент прожил определённое время после операции. Манипуляция была осуществлена, вероятно, в медицинских целях. На черепе отмечены также дискретные признаки и маркеры физиологического стресса. В настоящее время известно 8 случаев трепанации, датируемых концом II — началом I тыс. до н.э. с территории Азербайджана: из них два (мужчины) совершены прижизненно в медицинских целях методом скобления и прорезывания (один успешно, второй — окончился смертью пациента); шесть в ритуально-символических целях, из них четыре — прижизненно выполнены методом прижигания (мужчина, женщина, два взрослых индивидуума) и два — посмертно (женщина и мужчина), методом прорезывания.

The article "In Memoriam: Michael H. Crawford (1939–2024)" published in the American Journal of Human Biology pays tribute to Dr. Michael H. Crawford, a pioneer in the fields of human biology and biological anthropology. Dr. Crawford's groundbreaking work over a career spanning more than 50 years significantly impacted our understanding of human diversity and origins. His research, mentorship, and leadership within the Human Biology Association left a lasting legacy in the field. Born in Shanghai to Russian and Scottish American expatriates, Dr. Crawford's life journey and scholarly contributions reflect a remarkable breadth of scholarship and a commitment to training the next generation of scholars in anthropological genetics and human biology. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the history of bioarchaeology from the beginning of the twentieth century, proxied by representation in publications as reported annually by the editors-in-chief of the American Journal of Physical/Biological Anthropology. Embedded within this history is the career trajectory of Jane E. Buikstra, who coined the term in relationship to the study of archaeologically recovered human remains in 1976. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The osteological paradox recognizes that the presence of lesions is not always directly related with increased mortality. When combined with the clinical, historical, and epidemiological literature on scurvy, survivorship analysis, a form of statistical analysis to assess the relationship between the presence of diseases in the archeological record and survival, helps determine the overall burden of the disease both in terms of morbidity and mortality. This article explores the relationship between scurvy and survivorship in 26 adults from Man Bac, a Neolithic site from northern Vietnam together with prepublished evidence of scurvy in the nonadult population (n = 44). Methods: Diagnosis of scurvy included differential diagnosis combined with the Snoddy, A. M. E., Buckley, H. R., Elliott, G. E., Standen, V. G., Arriaza, B. T., & Halcrow, S. E. (2018). Macroscopic features of scurvy in human skeletal remains: A literature synthesis and diagnostic guide. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 167(4), 876–895. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23699 threshold criteria and the Brickley, M. B., & Morgan, B. (2023). Assessing diagnostic certainty for scurvy and rickets in human skeletal remains. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 181, 637–645 diagnostic certainty approaches. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were produced to assess the relationship between the presence of probable scurvy and age‐at‐death. Results: The prevalence of probable scurvy in adults (35%) was considerably lower than reported for the nonadults (80%). Almost all lesions observed in the adults were in a mixed stage of healing. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated no difference in survivorship between infants and children (<15 years) with or without probable scurvy, whereas a meaningful difference was observed for the adults and adolescents (15+ years). Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that scurvy considerably decreased survivorship to older age categories. The degree of lesion remodeling, however, indicates that scurvy was not necessarily the direct cause of death but contributed to an overall disease burden that was ultimately fatal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although ethical reforms in biological anthropology have gained ground in recent years, there is still a scarcity of ethical standards for work involving historical documented collections (HDCs) at US museums and universities. These collections of deceased individuals were created in the late 19th to mid‐20th centuries under anatomy laws that targeted socially marginalized communities and allowed for the dissection of these individuals without their consent. Due to the extensive information associated with the individuals and made available to researchers, these collections have served as foundational resources for theory and methods development in biological anthropology into the 21st century. Recognizing the need for ethical guidelines for research, teaching and training, community engagement, and curation involving HDCs, we held a workshop called "Ethical Futures for Curation, Research, and Teaching in Biological Anthropology" on November 15–17, 2021. Here we summarize the conversations and major points of consensus among the workshop participants on these topics in order to advance these ethical considerations more broadly across the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Age at death estimation is a key element to many research questions in biological anthropology, archeology, and forensic science. Dental cementum is a tissue of choice for the estimation of age at death in adult individuals as it continues deposition for the entirety of an individual's life. Previous works have devised regression formulas correlating cementum thickness to age at death. However, interpopulation variances are unknown, and it is therefore not clear whether regressions based on a single population are applicable to individuals with different ancestries. Materials and Methods: Here, we use a sample (n = 52) of teeth from individuals with known age at tooth extraction/death of European, African, and East Asian ancestry to assess whether there are interpopulations differences in cementum growth rate. We measured growth rate in four different areas (2nd and 5th decile of both the lingual and buccal aspect of the root) of each tooth and used nonparametric tests to evaluate population differences in growth rate between homologous regions of the teeth. Results: The results of the analyses show that, even after controlling for tooth size, individuals of European ancestry have significantly lower growth rates than those of both African and East Asian ancestry across all four tooth areas. Discussion: These results call into question the applicability of the regression formulas derived from European ancestry individuals to individuals of other ancestries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Craniofacial development is a critical aspect of pediatric growth, influencing fields such as physical anthropology, pediatrics, forensic sciences, and clinical practice. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the trends in craniofacial measurements and indices in Latvian children aged 1–15. Methods: The anthropometrical measurements (head circumference, length, width, facial length, and width) were conducted on 375 children according to the guidelines by R. Martin, K. Saller, and J. Prīmanis at the Anthropology laboratory at the Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Rīga Stradiņš University. The cephalic index (CI) and the facial or prosopic index (PI) were calculated, allowing for a detailed examination of cranial and facial proportions. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Pearson Chi-square test and the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: The findings revealed a consistent increase in head circumference with age, with boys generally having slightly larger heads than girls. The boys and girls exhibited growth in head length and width, particularly noticeable between 1 and 2 years of age. Facial length and width increased with age, with boys typically having longer facial lengths and broader faces than girls. The most common cephalic index category is mesocephaly, which accounts for 52.85% of the population, followed by dolichocephaly at 32.94%. Brachycephaly and hyperbrachycephaly are less prevalent, representing 11.36% and 2.86% of the population. Regarding the facial index categories, hypereuryprosopic is the most prevalent, representing 45.54% of the population, closely followed by euryprosopic at 43.74%. Mesoprosopic is significantly less common, representing only 9.95%. The least common categories are leptoprosopic and hyperleptoprosopic, with prevalences of 0.64% and 0.12%, respectively. The indices analysis showed variations across age groups, with dolichocephaly being more common at younger ages and decreasing over time. Brachycephaly and hyperbrachycephaly remained relatively stable or decreased slightly with age, while mesocephaly displayed less variation. The relationship between the FI and CI in younger age groups was typically weak to moderate and inverse, with a significance level of p < 0.001 or p < 0.01. However, no meaningful correlation was observed in older children aged 14–15. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the craniofacial development of Latvian children, highlighting the measurements, cranial and facial types, and their variations across age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, first-year lectures in Biological Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and Mississauga (UTM) were offered via online asynchronous delivery, which challenged the ability of instructors to interact with students and gauge levels of understanding, interest, and engagement. This teaching brief describes one approach used to connect with students and build community in a remote-learning environment. In a low-stakes assessment, students introduced themselves, specified from where in the world they were learning, and were invited to submit photographs from home. Photos were submitted from all over Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and were integrated into lectures with short discussions on the evolutionary history and significance of these places. This exercise was successful in creating community by integrating student experience directly into course material, emphasizing geographic and cultural diversity, and showcasing this diversity for all students, whether learning on campus or abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The topic of osseous variations of the craniocervical junction is a complex morphological and embryological chapter of human anatomy, with a possible impact on neurogical and vascular functionality in this morphological variable region. Material & methods: An until now undescribed anatomical variation of the exoccipital part of the occipital bone has been observed after maceration at the outer skull base of a West-European 68-year-old male body donor. Results: On both sites of the foramen magnum accessory osseous processes were observed that arise from the jugular process and point towards the lateral margin of the foramen magnum. On the left site this process forms a full arc that bridges the condylar fossa completely. Conclusion: The observed osseous bridge over the condylar fossa has not been reported on before and can be explained by the partial persistence of a primordial vertebra between atlas and occipital bone: the Proatlas. The resulting accessory structure may affect due to its topographic conditions the V3-Segment of the vertebral artery and its accompanying nerves, and thus, play a role in diagnosis and therapy of vascular and/or neurological symptoms of head and neck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Writing a First Osteoarchaeology Article: Some Advice for Early Career Researchers" provides guidance for early career researchers on publishing their first journal article in the field of osteoarchaeology. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on key discoveries from research, choosing the right journal, following author guidelines, and ensuring clear aims and conclusions. The article also highlights the significance of coauthorship, abstracts, keywords, results presentation, statistical analysis, and responding to reviewer feedback. It encourages resilience, seeking feedback, and revising submissions to improve writing skills and academic success. [Extracted from the article]

This article reflects on the scientific production of the German anthropologist and physician Robert Lehmann-Nitsche in the light of his own historical and intellectual context as well as his personal beliefs and/or conceptions. An approach to his work is proposed from the thematic interests addressed by him, including physical anthropology, folklore, native languages, and mythology. The central question of this article is whether it is possible to find a common element or a common thread among the diversity of interests and topics addressed by Lehmann-Nitsche. The analysis draws on approaches from the anthropology of science and technology, which view science as a contextualized enterprise, while favoring the analysis of the distinctive practices of subjects and the interpretation of different native discourses and categories of analysis. This is fundamental to the study of scientific-academic communities in the process of being constituted such as those of the period analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern physical anthropology increasingly employs non-invasive methods that use 3D models representing the human body. Frequently, these are 3D models of a person's physical appearance, i.e., face or body. A traditional approach to analyse these records is to process discrete points (landmarks, feature points) collected manually on the model surface. The digitization of landmarks and associated errors have been sufficiently studied in the context of the human face, due to its functional and aesthetic importance. However, other parts of the human body have not received the same level of attention. The aim of the present study was to quantify the error of body landmarks when collected in 3D fullbody models and to explore how it relates to other model properties, such as a demographic and somatic indicators. The study tested two datasets of 10 body landmarks acquired in 60 models (32 males and 28 females). The data acquisition was carried out during the time span of 14 days. The magnitude of the digitization error for each point was acquired and tested between groups defined according to their anatomical location (shoulders, arms, legs; torso and limbs or body side), sex, age, height and body type. The results of this study showed that the error of digitising landmarks in a 3D model was greater compared to the error reported in the literature when acquiring landmarks on the human body. The digitization error was independent of participants' age, sex, height, and body type but was correlated with the anatomical location, where the upper chest, neck, and back on the knee yielded the highest digitization errors. In addition, this study showed that landmarks located on the shoulders and arms exhibited an error which was correlated negatively with the volume of the lower and upper half of the body and positively with the body depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preferred tool for conceptualizing, determining, and claiming relations of kinship, ancestry, and descent among humans are diagrams. For this reason, and at the same time to avoid a reduction to biology as transported by terms such as kinship, ancestry, and descent, we introduce the expression diagrammatics of relatedness. We seek to understand the enormous influence that especially tree diagrams have had as a way to express and engage with human relatedness, but hold that this success can only be adequately understood by attending to what in fact are broader diagrammatic practices. These practices bring to light that diagrams of relatedness do not simply make visible natural connections, but create or deny relations in particular ways and for particular reasons. In this special section, contributors investigate diagrams of relatedness in genealogy, heredity, as well as biological and social anthropology. Conceiving of diagrams as techniques that transcend such binaries as 'thought and action' and 'image and text', we aim at an understanding of how they were constructed and how they functioned in particular epistemic, cultural, and political contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern Tianshan Mountain (ETS) region in Xinjiang, China, has played a crucial role as a major highway for large‐scale human migrations and technological exchanges across Eurasia throughout history. Understanding the genetic makeup of past populations holds significant importance in comprehending human mobility in this region. Here, we report genome‐wide ancient DNA for the two individuals whose origins remain uncertain, found at the Dahe ancient city site in the ETS region. Our results indicate that although both individuals display a higher genetic affinity to Asian populations, one individual shows some genetic sharing with South Asians, while the other shares more affinity with populations from Northeastern Asia. Radiocarbon dating shows that the two human remains were not deposited simultaneously. Overall, the combined genetic, physical anthropology and radiocarbon evidence strongly suggests that the ETS region, situated at the heart of the Silk Road, has been a crossroads of diverse populations coexisting between the 8th and 11th centuries. Additionally, the genetic ancestry sharing with the Bronze Age Tarim mummies suggested a long‐term residual of indigenous ancestry in Xinjiang and showed that autochthonous deep Asian ancestry had left their genetic legacy into the historical populations of Xinjiang despite a spanning of over three millennia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age estimation methods through the metric study of bones in non-adult individuals are a frequently used tool in Biological and Forensic Anthropology; however, few methodological validation studies are available, given the limited number of adequate samples for their study. In this context, the aim of this work is to test the effectiveness of the methods of Fazekas and Kósa (1978), Saunders et al. (1993), Rissech and Black (2007) and Cardoso et al. (2017), for age estimation through the measurements of the scapula, in the non-adult osteological collection of the Anthropology Laboratory of the University of Granada (Spain), one of the most representative identified non-adult collections internationally. For this purpose, nine different measurements of the scapula were taken from a total of 149 non-adult individuals, applying the regression formulae proposed by the different authors and verifying their accuracy. Results have shown the existence of significant differences between the real age and the estimated age in almost all the tested methods, with degrees of error that differ from those obtained in the original study populations. Based on the obtained results, it is recommended to use the method of Cardoso et al. in postnatal individuals, always adjusting the degrees of error with those obtained in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forensic anthropology, osteological sex estimation methods are continuously reevaluated and updated to improve classification accuracies. Therefore, to gain a comprehensive understanding of recent trends in sex estimation research in forensic anthropology, a content analysis of articles published between 2000 and 2022 in Forensic Science International, the Journal of Forensic Sciences, the International Journal of Legal Medicine, the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, and Forensic Anthropology, was performed. The main goals of this content analysis were to (1) examine trends in metric versus morphological research, (2) examine which areas of the skeleton have been explored, (3) examine which skeletal collections and population affinities have been most frequently utilized, and (4) determine which statistical methods were commonly implemented. A total of 440 articles were coded utilizing MAXQDA and the resulting codes were exported for analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted utilizing the Cochran‐Armitage and Jonckheere‐Terpstra tests for trends, as well as Fisher–Freeman–Halton tests. The results demonstrate that sex estimation research published in these journals has prioritized metric over morphological methods. Further, the most utilized skeletal regions continue to be the skull and pelvis, while the most popular classification statistics continue to be discriminant function analysis and logistic regression. This study also demonstrates that a substantial portion of research has been conducted utilizing U.S. and Europe‐based collections and limited populations. Based on these results, future sex estimation research must continue exploring the use of long bones and other postcranial elements, testing newer methods of analysis, as well as developing population‐inclusive methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arkeoloji Dergisi is the property of Ege University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Africania: Inonu University Journal of African Studies is the property of Africania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: Over the past few years, several methods have been proposed to improve the accuracy of age estimation in infants with a focus on dental development as a reliable marker. However, traditional approaches have limitations in efficiently combining information from different teeth and features. In order to address these challenges, this article presents a study on age estimation in infants with Machine Learning (ML) techniques, using deciduous teeth. Materials and Methods: The involved dataset comprises 114 infant skeletons from the Granada osteological collection of identified infants, aged between 5 months of gestation and 3 years of age. The samples consist of features such as the maximum length and mineralization and alveolar stages of teeth. For the purpose of designing a method capable of combining all the information available from each individual, a Multilayer Perceptron model is proposed, one of the most popular artificial neural networks. This model has been validated using the leave‐one‐out experimental validation protocol. Through different groups of experiments, the study examines the informativeness of the aforementioned features, individually and in combination. Results: The results indicate that the fusion of different variables allows for more accurate age estimates (RMSE = 66 days) than when variables are analyzed separately (RMSE = 101 days). Additionally, the study demonstrates the benefits of involving multiple teeth, which significantly reduces the RMSE compared to a single tooth. Discussion: This article underlines the clear advantages of ML‐based methods, emphasizing their potential to improve the accuracy and robustness when estimating the age of infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special Education in Mexico has neglected the human body in the educational process, the body of the people it serves, the body of the teacher in training, and the body of the trained teacher; with this carelessness go those biological attributes that the human body has to interact with the instability of the real, such as experience. The present work presents a characterization of the experiential human body to explore its explicit presence in the Study Plan of the Bachelor's Degree in Special Education 2022, proposed by the New Mexican School which has integrated the 2004 and 2018 Study Plans. The experiential body is a theoretical construction from physical anthropology and other disciplines such as philosophy, sociology, social anthropology, history, and pedagogy, it recovers experience as a biological attribute of the human body in order to show that the human body is indispensable in the production of knowledge and therefore is not alien to education and particularly Special Education; by working with it implicity, as is the case with the 2022 curriculum, we neglect the most important element with which teachers in Special Education work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mid 1930’s, Dr. Luis Sandoval Smart joined the “Dirección de Investigaciones, Identificación y Pasaportes” of Chile as a biochemist physician, and from this position he started several lines of research about blood types and their properties, which put him on the cutting edge of these studies on a Latin American level, which derived in a career on university physical anthropology. It is notable that through Sandoval Smart’s figure the police laboratory created in 1935 went ahead of the curve on the areas of forensic hematology and seroanthropology. On the other hand, Sandoval Smart’s scientific writings reintroduce a layer of racism to criminalistics and anthropology. Finally, it is worthy of notice that Sandoval Smart is a relatively ignored figure on the disciplinary memory of chilean anthropology, situation about which this work shares some thoughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of a classic physical anthropological and paleopathological study of the early medieval human bone material from the Himod-Káposztáskertek site. A smaller part of the graves can be dated to the ninth century but the majority of graves dates to the tenth–eleventh century. Since the possibility of population continuity was raised, the archaeological data related to the question were also reviewed (with special emphasis on the typology of a knife found in Grave 68), with the intent of seeing whether the anthropological data supported this hypothesis. Both samples represent only a small number of cases and the remains are poorly preserved. The ninth century series especially provided very little data, ultimately making comparison impossible. The remains of 25 individuals were found in the Carolingian cemetery section: childburials number 15, the juvenile age group is not represented by any skeletons, there are ten adult burials (4 males, 5 females, 1 of undeterminable sex). The skeletons from 87 individuals were excavated from the tenth–eleventh century section of the cemetery, of which 25 were children, 5 were juveniles, and 57 were adults (29 males, 28 females). For both men and women, people of tall stature form the majority; male skulls are characterized by large absolute dimensions, mainly a broad forehead and a broad face. Fractures, degenerative changes of the spine and extravertebral joints (especially the elbow joint) were common. Tuberculosis infection was suspected in the case of one individual. Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease with bilateral involvement and a rare developmental disorder, congenital scoliosis, occurred in the material as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the number of people who have been disappeared in Mexico has increased, so this article (of a theoretical nature) was carried out with the aim of measuring the impact of this violent practice in the different social circles where it daily transited the missing person. As specific objectives, we propose: 1) return to the category of “absent body” from physical anthropology to validate the experience lived by the close relatives of the disappeared person; 2) to recover the testimonies of the relatives of the disappeared to measure the psychological effects, social, economic and health of these violent events; 3) make visible and reconsider about these practices and their implications for the health of the population. We consider that with the category of “absent body” we give a new meaning to the fact suffered by the family members, to help them process this painful experience in different ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As previous research has observed, medical students and physicians alike confront vast amounts of knowledge in their education and practice, such that no one clinician can know everything there is to know about biomedicine. Even before clerkships, medical students learn to cope with this impossibility by prioritizing certain information based on its perceived utility for exams and clinical practice. Many factors can shape this process, including teamwork, wherein individual medical students rely on one another to address gaps in knowledge at the level of the group. This paper will draw on qualitative data from two allopathic medical schools in the American Midwest to demonstrate that peer-to-peer learning, a widely utilized pedagogical modality in North American medical schools, is amongst the earliest places where future physicians learn how to rely on their peers in the profession as they make choices about what to know and what not to know about biomedicine: cultivating a culture of "intraprofessionalism" between students with different knowledges and values, as they prepare to enter the same profession. The paper will also consider how differences in the student populations at two field sites impact intraprofessional development. Drawing on scholarship of peer-based learning strategies and the sociology and anthropology of medical education, the authors argue that peer-to-peer learning is a key site in the professional socialization of medical students toward the effective management of medical knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the career and contributions of Larry T. Reynolds, a sociologist known for his engaging research and collaborative writing. Topics include symbolic interactionism, critiqued from a sociology of knowledge perspective, his long-term collaboration on the concept of "race" with Leonard Lieberman, and their critique of the use of the race concept by physical anthropologists and other scientists.

Early in his career, Steven D. Ousley established his view on the need for biological anthropologists to provide empirical support for their findings. He, like many of his mentors and contemporaries, became acutely aware of the need for more statistical rigor in forensic anthropology. His research and the scholarly products he produced explored the relationship and linkage between method and theory, between what can be observed, what can be explained, and what can be quantified. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a commitment to advancing knowledge, Steve's work has left an indelible mark on the intersection between biological anthropology and statistical approaches to the study of human variation and has enriched our understanding of population affinity estimation. With a career characterized by rigor, innovation, and a passion for discovery, his pioneering insights continue to reverberate through academia and the applied world encompassing forensic anthropology. As we delve into this collection of scholarly works, we embark on a journey through the intellectual landscape Steve so profoundly shaped, celebrating his legacy and the lasting impact of his ideas. We present herewith a compilation of Steve's works, thesis, dissertation, published papers, grants and awards, software, student mentorships, and data collection activities. These illustrate the breadth of his knowledge and contributions to our discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic impact is often measured in the amount of publications, number of students mentored, and what seminal research is contributed to a field. However, beyond this physical component of a person's legacy is the influence they have on the field's current and future practitioners and their perceptions of the field. Stephen Ousley's contributions to both academic impact and lasting influence on its members are innumerable. This article seeks to provide a retrospective look into his teaching and mentorship style, highlight some of his contributions to the field, and then provide a prospective of new research Steve envisioned based on his last project, which was presented at the 2023 AABA conference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr. Steve Ousley--in full, Stephen David Ousley, PhD--American biological anthropologist, data analyst, general contrarian, and well- known beer aficionado, was at the forefront of forensic and biological anthropology. He was a quantitative star in the anthropological universe. On 6 November 2022, Steve succumbed to cancer, leaving behind a legacy of courage and dedication. His impact on the field of biological anthropology will be remembered for generations to come. Colleagues, friends, and family alike will always hold him dear in their hearts, celebrating his accomplishments and the unwavering spirit with which he approached life. Steve's life and legacy serve as an inspiring reminder of the power of determination, perseverance, and dedication. His contributions to forensic anthropology and his dedication to friends and family exemplify the depth of his character. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through his work, the lives he touched, and the memories he left behind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]