Evaluating macroscopic sex estimation methods using genetically sexed archaeological material

The medieval skeletal collection from St John's Divinity School, Cambridge

Bibliographic Data

ID8315404
AuthorsSarah Inskip (0000-0001-7424-2094, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge Cambridge United Kingdom, corresponding author), Christiana L Scheib (McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge Cambridge United Kingdom), Christiana Scheib (0000-0003-4158-8296, University of Cambridge, corresponding author), Anthony Wilder Wohns (0000-0001-7353-1177, Big Data Institute, University of Oxford Oxford United Kingdom), Xiangyu Ge (0009-0008-2341-8051, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences University of Manchester Manchester United Kingdom), Toomas Kivisild (0000-0002-6297-7808, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge Cambridge United Kingdom), John Robb (0000-0002-7987-4549, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge Cambridge United Kingdom)
Year2019
Volume168
Issue2
Pages340-351
Publication date2019-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Physical Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-9483 • E-ISSN: 1096-8644
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ajpa.23753
PMID30575013
OpenAlexW2906423128
LanguageEN
Citations received27
References cited56

OBJECTIVES: In tests on known individuals macroscopic sex estimation has between 70% and 98% accuracy. However, materials used to create and test these methods are overwhelming modern. As sexual dimorphism is dependent on multiple factors, it is unclear whether macroscopic methods have similar success on earlier materials, which differ in lifestyle and nutrition. This research aims to assess the accuracy of commonly used traits by comparing macroscopic sex estimates to genetic sex in medieval English material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six individuals from the 13th to 16th century Hospital of St John the Evangelist, Cambridge, were assessed. Genetic sex was determined using a shotgun approach. Eighteen skeletal traits were examined, and macroscopic sex estimates were derived from the os coxae, skull, and os coxae and skull combined. Each trait was tested for accuracy to explore sex estimates errors. RESULTS: The combined estimate (97.7%) outperformed the os coxae only estimate (95.7%), which outperformed the skull only estimate (90.4%). Accuracy rates for individual traits varied: Phenice traits were most accurate, whereas supraorbital margins, frontal bossing, and gonial flaring were least accurate. The preauricular sulcus and arc compose showed a bias in accuracy between sexes. DISCUSSION: Macroscopic sex estimates are accurate when applied to medieval material from Cambridge. However, low trait accuracy rates may relate to differences in dimorphism between the method derivative sample and the St John's collection. Given the sex bias, the preauricular sulcus, frontal bossing, and arc compose should be reconsidered as appropriate traits for sex estimation for this group

Archaeology · Art · Divinity · Geography · Theology · Forensic and Genetic Research · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Paleopathology and ancient diseases · Philosophy

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