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Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch University
- Source :
- South African Journal of Science, Volume: 114, Issue: 1-2, Pages: 1-6, Published: FEB 2018, South African Journal of Science, Vol 114, Iss 1/2, Pp 6-6 (2018)
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- Academy of Science of South Africa, 2018.
-
Abstract
- The Kirsten Skeletal Collection is curated in the Division of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. It comprises the largest documented cadaver-derived South African coloured skeletal collection in the world. Our aim in this paper is to present an inventory and characterise the identified skeletons in the Kirsten Skeletal Collection as well as provide a descriptive indication of what researchers can expect to encounter at the anthropology unit at Stellenbosch University. The skeletal material was derived mainly from the cadaver donation programme of the Division of Anatomy and Histology over a 58-year period (1957–2015). All pertinent information for each individual skeleton is entered into a database and a full skeletal inventory is established. The skeletal database registry was analysed to demonstrate the distribution of age, sex and population affinity of individuals in the collection. Currently, this collection consists of 1161 skeletons with known records. Despite differences in the age and sex composition, the skeletal profile in general reflects mainly the profile of the Western Cape population. Most individuals were born between 1920 and 1950, placing the Kirsten Skeletal Collection in the early to mid-20th century. The age at death for the greatest proportion (41.8%) of individuals was between 40 and 60 years. Current biological profile techniques in age, ancestry and sex estimation can be improved and, among others, new regional and ancestral specific standards for the biologically unique and diverse South African coloured population can be developed. Significance: We present the largest documented skeletal collection of the South African coloured population in the world. This work contributes to the skeletal reference database for use by physical anthropologists and others.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Anthropology
skeletal reference collection
Biological anthropology
physical anthropology
regional and ancestral specific skeletal standards
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
lcsh:Social Sciences
lcsh:H
03 medical and health sciences
030104 developmental biology
South African coloured population
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
lcsh:Q
lcsh:H1-99
regional and ancestr specific skeletal standards
Sociology
lcsh:Social sciences (General)
lcsh:Science
lcsh:Science (General)
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Citation
Composition (language)
lcsh:Q1-390
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19967489
- Volume :
- 114
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- South African Journal of Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cc1c4f20a2e99b5c3780a9b059aa8d62
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2018/20170198