Helen Kurki
Biographic Data
| ID | 83375 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Helen Kurki |
| GIVEN NAMES | Helen |
| FAMILY NAME | Kurki |
| SIGNATURE | KURKI H |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Victoria |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9789-6584 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 223 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 21 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 10 |
Ilium morphological variation during growth in forager populations
Human pelvic morphology has often been described in terms of an evolutionary compromise between bipedalism, encephalization, and obstetrics; however, recent research has argued that the pelvis is more biologically plastic than previously thought. Variation in pelvic form exists among adult modern human populations, but the factors influencing this variation, and when it manifests during growth, remain to be understood. The aim of this study is to…
Beyond sex, gender, and other dilemmas: Human pelvic morphology from an integrative context
Recent research on the pelvis has clarified the flexibility of pelvic bones to manage nearly infinite possibilities in terms of selection and drift, while still maintaining excellent bipedalism. Despite this work, and the studies outlining the diversity of pelvic morphology across the hominin lineage, conversations continue to be stymied by distractions related to purported trade‐offs that the different functions the pelvis must either allow for …
Moving Beyond the Obstetrical Dilemma Hypothesis: Birth, Weaning and Infant Care in the Plio-Pleistocene
The Evolutionary Biology of the Human Pelvis: An Integrative Approach
This book provides a synthetic overview of all evidence concerning the evolution of the morphology of the human pelvis, including comparative anatomy, clinical and experimental studies, and quantitative evolutionary models. By integrating these lines of research, this is the first book to bring all sources of evidence together to develop a coherent statement about the current state of the art in understanding pelvic evolution. Second, and related…
The relationship of age, activity, and body size on osteoarthritis in weight-bearing skeletal regions
Effects of osteoarthritis on age‐at‐death estimates from the human pelvis
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the degree of error in age-at-death estimates when osteoarthritis (OA) is present in three separate pelvic joint areas: (1) the pubic symphysis, (2) the auricular surface, and (3) the acetabulum from a modern known-age European cemetery sample of adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Age-at-death ranged from 17 to 79 years (x̄ =50.9 years; n = 252). OA in the pelvic joints was evaluated using standard ranked categorical s…
Patterns of directional asymmetry in the pelvis and pelvic canal
OBJECTIVES: The human pelvis is unique among modern taxa for supporting both parturition of large brained young and obligate bipedalism. Though much work has focused on pelvic development and variation, little work has explored the presence or absence of asymmetry in the pelvis despite well-known patterns of asymmetry in other skeletal regions. This study investigated whether patterns of directional asymmetry (DA) could be observed in the pelvis …
Shape variation in the human pelvis and limb skeleton: Implications for obstetric adaptation
OBJECTIVES: Under the obstetrical dilemma (OD) hypothesis, selection acts on the human female pelvis to ensure a sufficiently sized obstetric canal for birthing a large-brained, broad shouldered neonate, while bipedal locomotion selects for a narrower and smaller pelvis. Despite this female-specific stabilizing selection, variability of linear dimensions of the pelvic canal and overall size are not reduced in females, suggesting shape may instead…
Estimating body mass from postcranial variables: An Evaluation of Current Equations Using a Large Known-Mass Sample of Modern Humans
Estimating body mass from skeletal material: New Predictive Equations and Methodological Insights From Analyses of a Known-Mass Sample of Humans
Discernment of mortality risk associated with childbirth in archaeologically derived forager skeletons
An obstetric dilemma may have been a persistent characteristic of human evolution, in which the bipedal female's pelvis is barely large enough to accommodate the birth of a large-brained neonate. Evidence in the archaeological record for mortality risk associated with childbirth is rare, especially among highly mobile, immediate return hunter-gatherer populations. This research explores the idea that if excess mortality is associated with first p…
Estimating fossil hominin body mass from cranial variables: An assessment using CT data from modern humans of known body mass
Body mass estimates are integral to a wide range of inferences in paleoanthropology. Most techniques employ postcranial elements, but predictive equations based on cranial variables have also been developed. Three studies currently provide regression equations for estimating mass from cranial variables, but none of the equations has been tested on samples of known mass. Nor have the equations been compared to each other in terms of performance. C…
Skeletal variability in the pelvis and limb skeleton of humans: Does stabilizing selection limit female pelvic variation
The results suggest that stabilizing selection does not limit variability in the female pelvic canal. Biological plasticity may be greater in the canal than that in other skeletal regions
Bony pelvic canal size and shape in relation to body proportionality in humans
Obstetric selection acts on the female pelvic canal to accommodate the human neonate and contributes to pelvic sexual dimorphism. There is a complex relationship between selection for obstetric sufficiency and for overall body size in humans. The relationship between selective pressures may differ among populations of different body sizes and proportions, as pelvic canal dimensions vary among populations. Size and shape of the pelvic canal in rel…
Allometry of head and body size in holocene foragers of the south african cape
Opportunities to assess morphological allometry in small‐bodied human populations are rare. The foragers of the Later Stone Age of the South African Cape are characteristically small‐bodied. Previous studies have shown that during the period of ca. 3500 to 2000 years BP (uncalibrated 14 C dates), the regional population shows transient reduced stature, body mass, and cranial size, a pattern that has been tentatively tied to demographic pressure o…
Compromised skeletal growth? Small body size and clinical contraction thresholds for the female pelvic canal
Pelvic dimorphism in relation to body size and body size dimorphism in humans
Body size estimation of small‐bodied humans: Applicability of current methods
Body size (stature and mass) estimates are integral to understanding the lifeways of past populations.Body size estimation of an archaeological skeletal sample can be problematic when the body size or proportions of the population are distinctive. One such population is that of the Holocene Later Stone Age (LSA) of southern Africa, in which small stature (mean femoral length = 407 mm, n = 52) and narrow pelves (mean bi‐iliac breadth = 210 mm, n =…
Adult proportionality in small‐bodied foragers: A test of ecogeographic expectations
If predictable, ecogeographic patterning in body size and proportions of human populations can provide valuable information regarding human biology, adaptation to local environments, migration histories, and health, now and in the past. This paper evaluates the assumption that small‐bodied Later Stone Age (LSA) foragers of Southern Africa show the adult proportions that would be expected of warm‐adapted populations. Comparisons are also made with…
Protection of obstetric dimensions in a small‐bodied human sample
In human females, the bony pelvis must find a balance between being small (narrow) for efficient bipedal locomotion, and being large to accommodate a relatively large newborn. It has been shown that within a given population, taller/larger‐bodied women have larger pelvic canals. This study investigates whether in a population where small body size is the norm, pelvic geometry (size and shape), on average, shows accommodation to protect the obstet…
Use of the first rib for adult age estimation: A test of one method
The human first rib is relatively easy to identify and is often preserved, in comparison with elements such as the fourth rib and pubic symphysis. Therefore it is potentially a valuable skeletal element for estimating age in forensic and archaeological contexts. A method of adult age estimation using the first rib (Kunos et al., 1999) is tested on a sample of known age skeletons from the J.C.B. Grant Collection (n = 29, mean age = 55.7 years). Th…
Protection of obstetric dimensions in a small‐bodied human sample
In human females, the bony pelvis must find a balance between being small (narrow) for efficient bipedal locomotion, and being large to accommodate a relatively large newborn. It has been shown that within a given population, taller/larger‐bodied women have larger pelvic canals. This study investigates whether in a population where small body size is the norm, pelvic geometry (size and shape), on average, shows accommodation to protect the obstet…
Pelvic dimorphism in relation to body size and body size dimorphism in humans
Body size estimation of small‐bodied humans: Applicability of current methods
Body size (stature and mass) estimates are integral to understanding the lifeways of past populations.Body size estimation of an archaeological skeletal sample can be problematic when the body size or proportions of the population are distinctive. One such population is that of the Holocene Later Stone Age (LSA) of southern Africa, in which small stature (mean femoral length = 407 mm, n = 52) and narrow pelves (mean bi‐iliac breadth = 210 mm, n =…
Bony pelvic canal size and shape in relation to body proportionality in humans
Obstetric selection acts on the female pelvic canal to accommodate the human neonate and contributes to pelvic sexual dimorphism. There is a complex relationship between selection for obstetric sufficiency and for overall body size in humans. The relationship between selective pressures may differ among populations of different body sizes and proportions, as pelvic canal dimensions vary among populations. Size and shape of the pelvic canal in rel…
Estimating body mass from postcranial variables: An Evaluation of Current Equations Using a Large Known-Mass Sample of Modern Humans
Adult proportionality in small‐bodied foragers: A test of ecogeographic expectations
If predictable, ecogeographic patterning in body size and proportions of human populations can provide valuable information regarding human biology, adaptation to local environments, migration histories, and health, now and in the past. This paper evaluates the assumption that small‐bodied Later Stone Age (LSA) foragers of Southern Africa show the adult proportions that would be expected of warm‐adapted populations. Comparisons are also made with…
Estimating body mass from skeletal material: New Predictive Equations and Methodological Insights From Analyses of a Known-Mass Sample of Humans
Shape variation in the human pelvis and limb skeleton: Implications for obstetric adaptation
OBJECTIVES: Under the obstetrical dilemma (OD) hypothesis, selection acts on the human female pelvis to ensure a sufficiently sized obstetric canal for birthing a large-brained, broad shouldered neonate, while bipedal locomotion selects for a narrower and smaller pelvis. Despite this female-specific stabilizing selection, variability of linear dimensions of the pelvic canal and overall size are not reduced in females, suggesting shape may instead…
Estimating fossil hominin body mass from cranial variables: An assessment using CT data from modern humans of known body mass
Body mass estimates are integral to a wide range of inferences in paleoanthropology. Most techniques employ postcranial elements, but predictive equations based on cranial variables have also been developed. Three studies currently provide regression equations for estimating mass from cranial variables, but none of the equations has been tested on samples of known mass. Nor have the equations been compared to each other in terms of performance. C…
Allometry of head and body size in holocene foragers of the south african cape
Opportunities to assess morphological allometry in small‐bodied human populations are rare. The foragers of the Later Stone Age of the South African Cape are characteristically small‐bodied. Previous studies have shown that during the period of ca. 3500 to 2000 years BP (uncalibrated 14 C dates), the regional population shows transient reduced stature, body mass, and cranial size, a pattern that has been tentatively tied to demographic pressure o…
Effects of osteoarthritis on age‐at‐death estimates from the human pelvis
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the degree of error in age-at-death estimates when osteoarthritis (OA) is present in three separate pelvic joint areas: (1) the pubic symphysis, (2) the auricular surface, and (3) the acetabulum from a modern known-age European cemetery sample of adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Age-at-death ranged from 17 to 79 years (x̄ =50.9 years; n = 252). OA in the pelvic joints was evaluated using standard ranked categorical s…
Use of the first rib for adult age estimation: A test of one method
The human first rib is relatively easy to identify and is often preserved, in comparison with elements such as the fourth rib and pubic symphysis. Therefore it is potentially a valuable skeletal element for estimating age in forensic and archaeological contexts. A method of adult age estimation using the first rib (Kunos et al., 1999) is tested on a sample of known age skeletons from the J.C.B. Grant Collection (n = 29, mean age = 55.7 years). Th…
Use of the first rib for adult age estimation: A test of one method
The human first rib is relatively easy to identify and is often preserved, in comparison with elements such as the fourth rib and pubic symphysis. Therefore it is potentially a valuable skeletal element for estimating age in forensic and archaeological contexts. A method of adult age estimation using the first rib (Kunos et al., 1999) is tested on a sample of known age skeletons from the J.C.B. Grant Collection (n = 29, mean age = 55.7 years). Th…
Protection of obstetric dimensions in a small‐bodied human sample
In human females, the bony pelvis must find a balance between being small (narrow) for efficient bipedal locomotion, and being large to accommodate a relatively large newborn. It has been shown that within a given population, taller/larger‐bodied women have larger pelvic canals. This study investigates whether in a population where small body size is the norm, pelvic geometry (size and shape), on average, shows accommodation to protect the obstet…
Adult proportionality in small‐bodied foragers: A test of ecogeographic expectations
If predictable, ecogeographic patterning in body size and proportions of human populations can provide valuable information regarding human biology, adaptation to local environments, migration histories, and health, now and in the past. This paper evaluates the assumption that small‐bodied Later Stone Age (LSA) foragers of Southern Africa show the adult proportions that would be expected of warm‐adapted populations. Comparisons are also made with…
Body size estimation of small‐bodied humans: Applicability of current methods
Body size (stature and mass) estimates are integral to understanding the lifeways of past populations.Body size estimation of an archaeological skeletal sample can be problematic when the body size or proportions of the population are distinctive. One such population is that of the Holocene Later Stone Age (LSA) of southern Africa, in which small stature (mean femoral length = 407 mm, n = 52) and narrow pelves (mean bi‐iliac breadth = 210 mm, n =…
Compromised skeletal growth? Small body size and clinical contraction thresholds for the female pelvic canal
Pelvic dimorphism in relation to body size and body size dimorphism in humans
Allometry of head and body size in holocene foragers of the south african cape
Opportunities to assess morphological allometry in small‐bodied human populations are rare. The foragers of the Later Stone Age of the South African Cape are characteristically small‐bodied. Previous studies have shown that during the period of ca. 3500 to 2000 years BP (uncalibrated 14 C dates), the regional population shows transient reduced stature, body mass, and cranial size, a pattern that has been tentatively tied to demographic pressure o…
Skeletal variability in the pelvis and limb skeleton of humans: Does stabilizing selection limit female pelvic variation
The results suggest that stabilizing selection does not limit variability in the female pelvic canal. Biological plasticity may be greater in the canal than that in other skeletal regions
Bony pelvic canal size and shape in relation to body proportionality in humans
Obstetric selection acts on the female pelvic canal to accommodate the human neonate and contributes to pelvic sexual dimorphism. There is a complex relationship between selection for obstetric sufficiency and for overall body size in humans. The relationship between selective pressures may differ among populations of different body sizes and proportions, as pelvic canal dimensions vary among populations. Size and shape of the pelvic canal in rel…
Discernment of mortality risk associated with childbirth in archaeologically derived forager skeletons
An obstetric dilemma may have been a persistent characteristic of human evolution, in which the bipedal female's pelvis is barely large enough to accommodate the birth of a large-brained neonate. Evidence in the archaeological record for mortality risk associated with childbirth is rare, especially among highly mobile, immediate return hunter-gatherer populations. This research explores the idea that if excess mortality is associated with first p…
Estimating fossil hominin body mass from cranial variables: An assessment using CT data from modern humans of known body mass
Body mass estimates are integral to a wide range of inferences in paleoanthropology. Most techniques employ postcranial elements, but predictive equations based on cranial variables have also been developed. Three studies currently provide regression equations for estimating mass from cranial variables, but none of the equations has been tested on samples of known mass. Nor have the equations been compared to each other in terms of performance. C…
Patterns of directional asymmetry in the pelvis and pelvic canal
OBJECTIVES: The human pelvis is unique among modern taxa for supporting both parturition of large brained young and obligate bipedalism. Though much work has focused on pelvic development and variation, little work has explored the presence or absence of asymmetry in the pelvis despite well-known patterns of asymmetry in other skeletal regions. This study investigated whether patterns of directional asymmetry (DA) could be observed in the pelvis …
Shape variation in the human pelvis and limb skeleton: Implications for obstetric adaptation
OBJECTIVES: Under the obstetrical dilemma (OD) hypothesis, selection acts on the human female pelvis to ensure a sufficiently sized obstetric canal for birthing a large-brained, broad shouldered neonate, while bipedal locomotion selects for a narrower and smaller pelvis. Despite this female-specific stabilizing selection, variability of linear dimensions of the pelvic canal and overall size are not reduced in females, suggesting shape may instead…
Estimating body mass from postcranial variables: An Evaluation of Current Equations Using a Large Known-Mass Sample of Modern Humans
Estimating body mass from skeletal material: New Predictive Equations and Methodological Insights From Analyses of a Known-Mass Sample of Humans
The relationship of age, activity, and body size on osteoarthritis in weight-bearing skeletal regions
Effects of osteoarthritis on age‐at‐death estimates from the human pelvis
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the degree of error in age-at-death estimates when osteoarthritis (OA) is present in three separate pelvic joint areas: (1) the pubic symphysis, (2) the auricular surface, and (3) the acetabulum from a modern known-age European cemetery sample of adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Age-at-death ranged from 17 to 79 years (x̄ =50.9 years; n = 252). OA in the pelvic joints was evaluated using standard ranked categorical s…
The Evolutionary Biology of the Human Pelvis: An Integrative Approach
This book provides a synthetic overview of all evidence concerning the evolution of the morphology of the human pelvis, including comparative anatomy, clinical and experimental studies, and quantitative evolutionary models. By integrating these lines of research, this is the first book to bring all sources of evidence together to develop a coherent statement about the current state of the art in understanding pelvic evolution. Second, and related…
Moving Beyond the Obstetrical Dilemma Hypothesis: Birth, Weaning and Infant Care in the Plio-Pleistocene
Beyond sex, gender, and other dilemmas: Human pelvic morphology from an integrative context
Recent research on the pelvis has clarified the flexibility of pelvic bones to manage nearly infinite possibilities in terms of selection and drift, while still maintaining excellent bipedalism. Despite this work, and the studies outlining the diversity of pelvic morphology across the hominin lineage, conversations continue to be stymied by distractions related to purported trade‐offs that the different functions the pelvis must either allow for …
Ilium morphological variation during growth in forager populations
Human pelvic morphology has often been described in terms of an evolutionary compromise between bipedalism, encephalization, and obstetrics; however, recent research has argued that the pelvis is more biologically plastic than previously thought. Variation in pelvic form exists among adult modern human populations, but the factors influencing this variation, and when it manifests during growth, remain to be understood. The aim of this study is to…
Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies (18 works) · Biology (16 works) · Medicine (12 works) · Demography (11 works) · Anatomy (10 works) · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology (10 works) · Mathematics (9 works) · Paleopathology and ancient diseases (9 works) · Anatomy (8 works) · Population (8 works)