Anthropometry is the measurement of the human body to interpret differences between people and trends within populations. Anthropometry is used in several fields, including medicine, biological anthropology, archaeology, and forensics. For example, comparing the relative bone proportions between two groups of children of the same age can identify the impact of malnourishment on their physical development during childhood. Paleontologists can also tell historical periods with anthropometry — such as whether a set of skeletal remains pertains to a Neanderthal or Homo sapiens.
Anthropology is the discipline that has developed anthropometrical comparison studies into a set of reliable standardized data and mathematical formulae, which are now useful for both modern forensic science and archaeology. Anthropometry has been used in forensics and bioarchaeology, providing measurements for specific skeletal features that differentiate people. For example, the os coxae and skull structures can indicate possible sex, while the length of the long bones estimate height.
Watch this short youtube video for an example of what types of questions anthropologists can ask and answer about human remains that are discovered.
Station 6: Identifying Sex
When human skeletal materials are recovered in a forensic context, researchers attempt to identify their sex and age. Anthropologists typically look to the skull and the os coxae for the clearest evidence of sex.
Read through the descriptions of the differences between typical male and female features on skulls. Then, analyze the 3D skulls below, and attempt to determine whether you think each specimen is male or female.
**NOTE: We classify traits as “more male” and “more female” to indicate that they are just tendencies toward one end of a scale or the other. There are often cases where a male skull may exhibit a “typical female” characteristic, or vice versa.
| Feature | Skull 1 | Skull 2 |
| Overall skull size | ||
| Forehead Shape | ||
| Supraorbital ridge size | ||
| Mastoid Process | ||
| Nuchal area (occipital protruberance) | ||
| Chin Shape | ||
| Total # of Ms | ||
| Total # of Fs | ||
| Sex Designation |
Sexing Pelves
The os coxae of an individual also provides significant clues to their sex. Look over the comparative observations below, and then attempt to identify the sex of the two 3D os coxae.
Based on the differences outlined above, try to determine the sex of the following two pelves.
| Feature | Pelvis 1 | Pelvis 2 |
| Sub-pubic arch | ||
| Pubic symphysis | ||
| Greater sciatic notch | ||
| Pelvic inlet (pelvic cavity) | ||
| Total # of Ms | ||
| Total # of Fs | ||
| Sex Designation |
