Cortical bone age estimates from historically known adults

Adult skeletal remains from 19th century historic cemeteries were used to test the accuracy and precision of age estimations based on the cortical bone histological technique proposed by Thompson [6, 7]. Comparison of estimates made from anterior microscopic fields versus peripheral fields (N = 29 femora) indicates general age agreement, with 6/29 demonstrating marked differences between sampling locations. Three cases of unilateral trauma show no consistent effect on bone age estimates. Among sixteen adults of known age, the ages of eight were accurately estimated; five were estimated to be significantly older and three were estimated to be younger than they were. It is argued that cortical erosion/diagenetic destruction may contribute to overestimation by obscuring the periosteal regions required for application of the technique. While not without its shortcomings, it is concluded that the Thompson technique is relatively robust and merits further development.