[Atypical indices in human paleontology]

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Statistical analysis
• Human evolution

Context:

• Analyzing skeletal morphology in paleoanthropology requires robust statistical methods.
• Interpreting multiple measurements from fossil remains presents analytical challenges.
• Understanding human evolutionary history relies on accurate morphological comparisons.

Purpose:

• To define and apply atypicality indices for quantifying measurement unusualness.
• To extend univariate atypicality to multivariate scenarios for joint interpretation.
• To demonstrate the utility of these indices in analyzing fossil human skulls.

Summary:

• Atypicality index quantifies the probability of observing a measurement closer to the population mean.
• The method seamlessly extends to multivariate data, enabling joint interpretation of multiple variables.
• A computer program is provided to facilitate these statistical calculations.

Impact:

• Enables objective analysis and comparison of morphological traits in human paleontology.
• Provides a framework for interpreting complex datasets from fossil hominins.
• Facilitates a deeper understanding of morphological variation in Upper Palaeolithic populations.