On the reliability of multivariate biological distances in anthropology: critics and polemics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18778/1898-6773.50.2.16Abstract
The work contains a response to the views of M. Henneberg (published in Przegląd Antropol. 1984, 50, 65-80) on (1) cognitive value of the measures of geometrical distance, (2) the application of Penrose's method in anthropological studies, (3) testing the significance of differences between groups specified when Penrose's method is. used, (4) dependence between Penrose's distance and the number of samples, The present work contains also an answer to M. Henneberg's objections stating that the author of this polemics obtained research results by ‘manipulating’ with the empirical material.
The present work criticizes and polemizes with the views of M. Henneberg. It states that M. Henneberg analyzed the views of different authors in a too onesided way, and regarding hte work of the present author he did not indicate any adequate facts evidencing the presumed ‘manipulation’ with the empirical material.
In the conclusion, the work criticizes and polemizes with the views concerning the definition of biological distance. M. Henneberg believes that the distance should reveal the similarity in all possible features and he introduces the notion of a ‘general biological similarity’. On the other hand, the author of the polemics believes that anthropological studies consist in searches for similarities regarding a given class of features according to theoretical bases of biological taxonomy.
Downloads
References
Bach A. 1978, Neolithische Populationen im Mittelelbe-Saale-Gebiet, Zur Anthropologie des Neolithikums unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Bandkeramiker, Weimaner Monographien zur Ur- und Frühgeschichte, Weimar.
View in Google Scholar
Bach H. A. Bach, 1971, Anthropologische Untersuchungen, (w:) Bach H., S. Dusek, Slawen in Thüringen, Weimar.
View in Google Scholar
Chojnicki Z. T. Czyż, 1973, Metody taksonomii numerycznej w regionalizacji geograficznej, PWN, Warszawa.
View in Google Scholar
Cesnys G. 1976, Craniological Characteristic of the 14th -17th c, Populationen in Lithuamia, I. Male Crania, Przegląd Antropologiczny, 42, 233 - 243.
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18778/1898-6773.42.2.04
Henneberg M. 1984, Wiarygodność wielocechowych miar odległości geometrycznej ze szczególnym. uwzględnieniem odlegiości Penrose'a, Przegląd Antropologiczny, 50, 1, 65 - 80.
View in Google Scholar
Henneberg M, J. Piontek, J. Strzałko, 1978, Natural Selection and Morphological Variability: The Case of Europe from, Neolithic to Modern Times, Current Anthropology, 19, 67 - 82.
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/202005
Knussmann R. 1967, Penrose-Abstand und Diskriminanzanalyse, Homo, 18, 134 - 140.
View in Google Scholar
Mayr,E., 1974, Podstawy, systematyki zwierząt, PWN, Warszawa.
View in Google Scholar
Parysek J. J. 1982, Modele klasyfikacji w geografii, UAM, Poznań.
View in Google Scholar
Penrose L. S., 1954, Distance size and shape, Annals of Eugenics, 18, 337 – 343.
View in Google Scholar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-1809.1952.tb02527.x
Piontek J. 1979, Procesy mikroewolucyjne w europejskich populacjach ludzkich, UAM, Poznań.
View in Google Scholar
Piontek J, M. Kaczmarek, 1981, Badania etnogenetyczne w antropologii: Próba nowego spojrzenia, Przegląd Antropologiczny, 47, 129 - 143.
View in Google Scholar
Roth-Lutra K. H. 1970, Vergleichend-statistische Untersuchungen zur Anthropologie des Friih- und Hochmittelalters in Europa I. Homo, 21, 104- 117.
View in Google Scholar
Roth-Lutra K. H, 1971, Vergleichend-statistische Untersuchungen zur Anthropologie des Früh-und Hohmittelalters in Europa II., Homo, 22, 84-87.
View in Google Scholar
Rösing F. W. I. Schwidetzky, 1977, Vergleichend-statistische. Untersuchungen zur Anthropologie des frühen Mittelalters (500 - 1000 mn. d.Z.), Homo, 28, 65 - 115.
View in Google Scholar
Schwidetzky I, 1967, Erfahrungen mit dem Penrose-Abstand, Homo, 18, 140 - 230.
View in Google Scholar
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.