A cephalometric comparison of skulls from the fourteenth, sixteenth and twentieth centuries

To evaluate changes in the size and shape of the skull and jaws in British populations between the thirteenth and twentieth centuries.

Lateral cephalometric radiograms were obtained from skulls of three groups of subjects: 30 skulls were from the remains of those who died in the London Black Death epidemic of 1348, 54 skulls were recovered from the wreck of the Mary Rose which sank in 1545 and 31 skulls were representative of modern cephalometric values.

Horizontal measurements in the base of the anterior cranial fossa and in the maxillary complex were greater in the modern group than in the medieval skulls. Cranial vault measurements were significantly higher (P=0.000) in the twentieth century skulls, especially in the anterior cranial fossa.

Results suggest that our medieval ancestors had more prominent faces and smaller cranial vaults than modern man.