A comparative analysis of differences in the pelves of South African blacks and whites

Show simple item record

dc.contributor.advisor Steyn, Maryna en
dc.contributor.postgraduate Patriquin, Michelle Lyn en
dc.date.accessioned 2013-09-07T11:04:46Z
dc.date.available 2005-08-16 en
dc.date.available 2013-09-07T11:04:46Z
dc.date.created 2001-11-19 en
dc.date.issued 2001 en
dc.date.submitted 2005-08-15 en
dc.description Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2001. en
dc.description.abstract Correct race and sex determination of unknown skeletal material is an important aspect of forensic anthropology. Numerous studies have focused on the differences, both osteometric and morphological, between the sexes of a particular racial phenotype, between race groups, and populations. From previous work by a variety of researchers, the necessity of population specific standards for identification has been demonstrated. The purpose of this research was to examine the metric and morphological differences in the pelvis between the sexes and races of South African whites and blacks. Results will be used in developing standards of identification tailored to this population. A sample of 400 known sex/race os coxae were examined. Skeletal material was obtained from the Pretoria collection housed at the University of Pretoria, Department of Anatomy and the Dart collection located at the University of Witwatersrand, Department of Anatomical Sciences. A series of thirteen measurements and five morphological characteristics were examined. Indices were calculated from data obtained from the metric analysis. Left and right sides were examined and those bones visibly pathologically deformed were excluded from the study. Data were subjected to SPSS stepwise and direct discriminant analysis. Results showed ischial length as the most sexually dimorphic characteristic in whites, while acetabulum diameter was best in blacks. Four functions (using pelvic dimensions) were developed for determining sex. Highest accuracies were achieved from function 1 (including all dimensions) which correctly classified 92-96% of individuals. Race differences were also investigated. Pubic length was chosen as best for discriminating between races for males and iliac breadth as best in females. Accuracies were 86-89% for males and 82-88% for females. Accuracies for sex discrimination were consistent with earlier studies. Morphological results yielded >80% accuracy for all traits in white males except greater sciatic notch shape where only 33% were correctly classified. A population specific variation in sciatic notch shape was observed where >50% of the white males had a wide sciatic notch previously thought to be a female expression. Black males recorded 81 % correct classification for pubic shape and >90% for the remaining characteristics. Greater sciatic notch and pubic bone shape achieved highest accuracies with 96% for both traits in white females, and 84% and 88% in black females respectively. In conclusion, this study conclusively demonstrates that race and population differences affect the expression of sexual dimorphism and must be accounted for to develop the most effective methods of analysis. en
dc.description.availability unrestricted en
dc.description.department Anatomy en
dc.identifier.citation Patriquin, ML 2001, A comparative analysis of differences in the pelves of South African blacks and whites , MSc dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27266> en
dc.identifier.other H1151/ag en
dc.identifier.upetdurl http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08152005-115726/ en
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27266
dc.language.iso en
dc.publisher University of Pretoria en_ZA
dc.rights © 2001 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. en
dc.subject Human remains archaeology en
dc.subject Indigenous peoples south africa en
dc.subject Extremities anatomy en
dc.subject Forensic anthropology en
dc.subject Race en
dc.subject Gender identity en
dc.subject UCTD en_US
dc.title A comparative analysis of differences in the pelves of South African blacks and whites en
dc.type Dissertation en


Files in this item

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record