Sex estimation from the calcaneus and talus using discriminant function analysis and its possible application in fossil remains

Abstract

Foot bones have been shown to be sexually dimorphic and they are frequently used for sex estimation. In this study, we estimated the sex based on the calcaneus and the talus of a modern North American population obtained from the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection, housed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (Ohio, USA). A total of 164 calcanei (84 males and 80 females) and 162 tali (83 males and 79 females) were studied. Several univariate discriminant functions were obtained, with accuracy ranging from 70.2 to 90.2%. The best variable for sex estimation in this sample is the talar length. Multivariate discriminant functions were also obtained. The accuracy (83.3 to 96.4%) was generally higher than that obtained with the univariate discriminant functions. The best multivariate equation is the one that uses all the variables measured in the talus. Discriminant functions previously reported in other studies were tested on the Hamann-Todd collection to verify their validity outside the population for which they were made. In addition, together with the equations reported here, they were applied on data from fossil remains belonging to three different groups (Homo neanderthalensis, hominins from the Sima de los Huesos, and anatomically modern Homo sapiens) in order to find some discriminant functions that allow for a valid determination of sex in this type of fossil populations. Several equations yielded good correct allocation percentages in fossil populations thus facilitating the estimation of sex for 16 fossil specimens of previously unknown sex.