Does human sexual dimorphism influence fracture frequency, types and distribution?

Jonna Nielsen

doi:10.2478/v10044-010-0002-3

Authors

Jonna Nielsen ADBOU, Forensic Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Lucernemarken 20, Dk-5260 Odense, Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/v10044-010-0002-3

Keywords:

interpretation of injuries, gender roles, medieval Denmark

Abstract

This study explores the hypothesis that the pattern of gender inequality in a community influences the frequency, patterns and distribution of fractures. As it is not possible to read gender relations from skeletons, it is - following several research results - assumed that the level of gender inequality is reflected in sexual dimorphism. Thus the study design consists in correlating a measure of sexual dimorphism with measures of frequencies, patterns and distribution of skeletal trauma between the two sexes. Nearly two hundreds individuals from two medieval Danish cemeteries have been examined (43 females/48 males from Jutland and 46 females/49 males from Funen). Sexual dimorphism was assessed by means of measurements on the pelvis and, in accordance with conventional wisdom, the level of sexual dimorphism was found to be lower in the Funen than in the Jutland sample. The fracture frequencies, patterns and distribution were estimated for the two skeletal samples. No significant difference between the fracture frequencies or types on the two sites was found, but the distribution of fractures between the sexes in Ribe was found to be significantly different. The study indicates a level of relationship between human sexual dimorphism, gender roles, and the distribution of fractures between the sexes. Studies of larger samples will help clarify this.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bass W.M., 2005, Human Osteology. A Laboratory and Field Manual, 5. Ed., Missouri Archaeological Society, Columbia

Christensen A.S., 1988, Middelalderbyen Odense, Centrum, Viby J.

Christensen J.T., 1999, Døden Skiller - Om Kirkegårdsskel og Skik under Skt. Knuds Plads, [in:] Fynske Minder 1999, Odense Universitetsforlag, Odense, pp. 83-92

Eriksen T.H., 1998, Små Steder - Store Spørgsmål, Innføring I Sosialantropologi, Universitetsforlaget, Oslo

González-Reimers E., J. Velasco-Vázquez, M. Arnay-de-la-Rosa, F. Santolaria-Fernndez, 2000, Sex Determination by Discriminant Function Analysis of the Right Tibia in the Prehispanic Population of the Canary Islands, Forensic Sci. Int., 108, 165-72

Grauer A.L., P. Stuart-Macadam, 1998, Sex and Gender in Paleopathological Perspective, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Hammond P.B., 1964, Cultural and Social Anthropology, Selected Reading, MacMillian, New York

İşcan M.Y., P. Miller-Shaivitz, 1984, Discriminant Function Sexing of the Tibia, J. Forensic Sci., 4, 1087-93

İşcan M.Y., M. Yoshino, S. Kato, 1994, Sex Determination from the Tibia: Standards for Contemporary Japan, J. Forensic Sci., 3, 785-92

Judd M.A., 2002a, Ancient Injury Recidivism: An Example from the Kerma Period of Ancient Nubia, Int. J. Osteoarchaeol., 12, 89-106

Judd M.A., 2002b, One Accident too Many?, BMSAES, 3, 42-54

Judd M.A., 2004, Trauma in the City of Kerma: Ancient versus Modern Injury Patterns, Int. J. Osteoarchaeol., 14, 34-51

Judd M.A., 2006, Continuity of Interpersonal Violence Between Nubian Communities, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 131, 324-33

Judd M.A., 2008, The Parry Problem, J. Archaeol. Sci., 35, 1658-66.

Kanazawa S., D.L. Novak, 2005, Human Sexual Dimorphism in Size May Be Triggered by Environmental Cues, J. Biosoc. Sci., 37, 657-65

Mays S., 1998, The Archaeology of Human Bones, Routledge, London and New York

McGee R.J., R.L. Warms, 2000, Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History, Mayfield, Mountain View

McWhirr A., L. Viner, C. Wells, 1982, Romano-British Cemeteries at Cirencester, Cirencester Excavation Committee, Cirencester

Murail P., J. Bruzek, F. Houët, E. Cunha, 2005, DSP: A Tool for Probabilistic Sex Diagnosis Using Worldwide Variation in Hip-Bone Measurements, Bull. Mém. Soc. Anthropol. Paris, 17, 167-76

Nielsen I., 1985, Middelalderbyen Ribe, Centrum, Viby J.

Nielsen O.V., 1970, The Nubian Skeleton through 4000 Years (Metrical and Non-metrical Anatomical Variations), Andelsbogtrykkeriet, Odense

Rich J., D.E. Dean, R.H. Powers, 2005, Forensic Medicine of the Lower Extremity, human Identification and Trauma Analysis of the Thigh, Leg, and Foot, Humana Press, Totowa

Rösing F.W., 1990, Qubbet el Hawa und Elephantine, zur Bevölkerungsgeschichte von Ägypten, Gustav Fischer, Stuttgart

Šlaus M., Ž. Tomičic, 2005, Discriminant Function Sexing of Fragmentary and Complete Tibiae from medieval Croatian Sites, Forensic Sci. Int., 147, 147-52

Smith G.E., F.W. Jones, 1910, Archóological Survey of Nubia, Report 1907-1908. Volume II incl. Plats, National Printing Department, Cairo

Smith M.O., 1996, ‘Parry’ Fractures and Female-directed Interpersonal Violence: Implications from the Late Archaic Period of West Tennessee, Int. J. Osteoarchaeol., 6, 84-91

Steyn M., M.Y. İşcan, 1997, Sex Determination from the Femur and Tibia in South African Whites, Forensic Sci. Int., 90, 111-19