A new method for sex estimation based on femoral cross-sectional geometry measurements and its validation using recent and ancient populations

Estimating sex is a fundamental task in biological and forensic anthropology. This study aimed to develop new methods for sex estimation based on femoral cross-sectional geometry (CSG) variables and to test their applicability in recent and ancient assemblages. The sample was divided into a study gr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of legal medicine 2023-07, Vol.137 (4), p.1263-1275
Main Authors: Francis, Samuel, Makoviychuck, Yulia, Chavoinik, Liron, Borgel, Sarah, Pokhojaev, Ariel, Roul, Victoria, Peled, Nathan, May, Hila
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Bone and Bones
Completeness
Computed tomography
Discriminant Analysis
Estimation
Femur - anatomy & histology
Femur - diagnostic imaging
Forensic Anthropology
Forensic Medicine
Humans
Hunter-gatherers
Mathematical analysis
Medical Law
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Original Article
Populations
Prehistoric era
Sex Determination by Skeleton - methods
Sexual dimorphism
Subgroups
Success
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Summary:Estimating sex is a fundamental task in biological and forensic anthropology. This study aimed to develop new methods for sex estimation based on femoral cross-sectional geometry (CSG) variables and to test their applicability in recent and ancient assemblages. The sample was divided into a study group (living individuals, N  = 124) for creating sex prediction equations and two test groups: living individuals ( N  = 31) and prehistoric individuals ( N  = 34). The prehistoric sample was divided into three subgroups according to subsistence strategy (hunter-gatherers, early farmers that also hunted, and farmers and herders). Femoral CSG variables (size, strength, and shape) were measured from CT images using dedicated software. Discriminant functions for sex estimation were calculated for various bone completeness scenarios and validated using the test groups. Size and strength parameters were sexually dimorphic, while shape was not. Discriminant functions for sex estimation produced success rates in the living sample between 83.9 and 93.5%; the distal shaft yielded the highest results. Success rates were lower among the prehistoric test sample, with better results (83.3%) for the mid-Holocene population (farmers and herders) than for earlier groups (e.g., hunter-gatherers; 
ISSN:0937-9827
1437-1596
DOI:10.1007/s00414-023-03009-x