Counting Scapulae: Using Scapular Metrics to Research Non-Adult Age-at-Death Estimation

Age estimation of non-adult skeletal is, and remains, an essential and intricate part of archaeological research and it is important that is accurate, as accurate age-at-death estimations are helpful in reconstructing demographic profiles, which in turn are useful for insight into health, living conditions, and broader sociodemographic factors that applied to people in the past. Rissech & Black (2007) put a preliminary method for estimating age based on scapular methods forward, introducing a new technique to approach non-adult age estimation with. This thesis aims to evaluate the suitability and accuracy of the preliminary formulae on the Dutch post-Mediaeval skeleton collection from Middenbeemster. These findings suggest that while scapular measurements are useful markers of growth, they lack the precision needed for individual-level age estimation. The results are largely consistent with those of other studies, which also illustrate population variations in growth patterns and...Show moreAge estimation of non-adult skeletal is, and remains, an essential and intricate part of archaeological research and it is important that is accurate, as accurate age-at-death estimations are helpful in reconstructing demographic profiles, which in turn are useful for insight into health, living conditions, and broader sociodemographic factors that applied to people in the past. Rissech & Black (2007) put a preliminary method for estimating age based on scapular methods forward, introducing a new technique to approach non-adult age estimation with. This thesis aims to evaluate the suitability and accuracy of the preliminary formulae on the Dutch post-Mediaeval skeleton collection from Middenbeemster. These findings suggest that while scapular measurements are useful markers of growth, they lack the precision needed for individual-level age estimation. The results are largely consistent with those of other studies, which also illustrate population variations in growth patterns and the influences of sexual dimorphism, especially during puberty. There was no clear sex bias, but subtle differences did stress that it is important to take developmental variation into account. For now the scapula is best used as a supportive method rather than a stand-alone.Show less

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Counting Scapulae: Using Scapular Metrics to Research Non-Adult Age-at-Death Estimation