Endocranial capacity of Western Australian aboriginal crania: comparisons and association with stature and latitude |
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Authors: | L Freedman W F Blumer M Lofgren |
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Affiliation: | Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands. |
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Abstract: | The endocranial capacities (ECCs) of 73 Western Australian Aboriginal crania were estimated. Using water-standardised mustard seed, ECCs were (in cm3) males--means 1,239, S.D. 92.3; females--means 1,118, S.D. 77.5. The male and female mean values were smaller than those previously published for Australia as a whole; sexual dimorphism (9.7%) was also slightly lower. Comparison of the Western Australian Aboriginal sample with a large Danish sample (Pakkenberg and Voigt, 1964; Holloway, 1980) permitted analysis of factors underlying sex and population differences in ECC. In both samples about 40% of the mean sex differences in ECC could be related to stature differences; for each sex almost 2/3 of the differences between the Western Australian and Danish means appear to be associated with differences in stature and latitude. Allometric adjustments are also involved. |
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Keywords: | Australian Aborigines Allometry, Climate |
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