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Updated: Aug 28, 2025

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains

Optimized Bone Sampling Protocols for the Retrieval of Ancient DNA from Archaeological Remains

Published on: November 30, 2021

The Application of Bony Labyrinth Methods for Forensic Affinity Estimation.

Alexandra Uhl¹, Fotios Alexandros Karakostis^1,2, Katerina Harvati^1,2

¹Paleoanthropology, Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, 72070 Tübingen, Germany.

|September 14, 2022

Summary

This study introduces a new method for identifying population affinity using the bony labyrinth, achieving over 90% accuracy. This technique is effective even with fragmentary human skeletal remains, aiding forensic and bioarchaeological analyses.

Keywords:

bony labyrinth cranium forensic anthropology forensic science inner ear population affinity

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Area of Science:

Forensic Anthropology
Bioarchaeology
Human Osteology

Background:

Population affinity identification is crucial for biological profiling of skeletal remains.
Traditional methods often require complete cranial elements, which are rare in forensic and bioarchaeological contexts.
The petrous portion of the cranium offers superior preservation in field conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop discriminant function formulae for determining population affinity.
To utilize measurements from three-dimensional models of the adult bony labyrinth.
To provide a reliable method for population affinity identification with fragmentary remains.

Main Methods:

Collected measurements from 3D models of adult bony labyrinths.
Utilized a sample of German, African Zulu, and Oneota individuals.
Developed stepwise discriminant function formulae for population affinity analysis.

Main Results:

Four function equations were developed with high accuracy.
The overall function for all three populations achieved 90.8% accuracy.
Specific equations accurately discriminated between population pairs: Zulu and Germans (91.2%), Zulu and Oneota (95.5%), and Oneota and Germans (96.7%).

Conclusions:

The bony labyrinth provides a highly successful new method for population affinity identification.
This technique demonstrates significant utility even when dealing with fragmentary skeletal remains.
The developed formulae offer a valuable tool for forensic and bioarchaeological investigations.