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Mandibular ramus height as an indicator of human infant age
1University of South Carolina, Department of Anthropology, Columbia, USA.
Insights
Researchers can accurately age infants under two years old using mandibular measurements. The maximum height of the mandibular ramus provides the most precise age-at-death estimates for forensic analysis.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Anthropology
- Paleopathology
- Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Accurate aging of infant skeletal remains is crucial for forensic investigations and paleopathological studies.
- Existing methods for aging subadults can have limitations, necessitating the development of more precise techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of aging infant skeletal samples using mandibular measurements.
- To identify the specific mandibular dimension that most accurately predicts age within a six-month range for infants.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 53 skeletonized infants from the National Museum of Natural History's Southwest Collection.
- Application of seven osteometric measurements to each mandible.
- Statistical analysis to correlate measurements with age-at-death.
Main Results:
- Infants under two years old could be accurately aged to within a six-month range.
- The maximum height of the mandibular ramus emerged as the most accurate predictor of infant age.
- Seven osteometric measurements were evaluated for their predictive accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Mandibular measurements offer a reliable method for aging infant skeletal remains.
- The maximum mandibular ramus height is a key metric for precise age-at-death estimation in infants.
- This research provides a valuable tool for forensic anthropologists and bioarchaeologists.
Abstract:
There were two goals to be achieved from the analysis of 53 skeletonized infants from the Southwest Collection at the National Museum of Natural History. The first objective was to determine whether this infant sample could be aged based on a mandibular measurement. The second was to determine which dimension of the mandible, if any, most accurately predicts infant age within a six-month range. Seven osteometric measurements were applied to each mandible. Statistical analysis determined that the individuals in the Smithsonian's Southwest Collection that were under two-years-old could be accurately aged to within six months. Out of these seven measurements the most accurate age-at-death estimates were generated based on the maximum height of the mandibular ramus. This finding can potentially aid investigators in determining the age-at-death of infants.