Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII de Investigación sobre Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, Avda. Monforte de Lemos 5 (Pabellón 14), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Forensic Sci Int. 2013 Mar 10;226(1-3):299.e1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.01.009. Epub 2013 Feb 4.
Stature estimation is a standard procedure in the fields of forensic and biological anthropology, bio-archaeology and paleoanthropology, in order to gain biological insights into the individuals/populations studied. The most accurate stature estimation method is based on anatomical reconstruction (i.e., the Fully method), followed by type I regression equations (e.g., ordinary least squares - OLS) based on long bones, preferably from the lower limb. In some cases, due to the fragmentary nature of the osseous material recovered, stature estimates have to rely on other elements, such as foot remains. In this study, we explore stature estimation based on different foot bones: the talus, calcaneus, and metatarsals 1-4 in Afro- and Euroamericans of both sexes. The approach undertaken in this study is novel for two reasons. First, individual estimates for each bone are provided, and tarsals and metatarsals are combined in order to obtain more accurate estimates. Second, robust statistical methods based on type I regression equations are used, namely least trimmed squares (LTS). Our results show that the best individual bones for estimating stature are the first and second metatarsal and both the talus and the calcaneus. The combination of a tarsal and a metatarsal bone slightly improves the accuracy of the stature estimate.
身高估计是法医学和生物人类学、生物考古学和古人类学领域的标准程序，目的是深入了解所研究的个体/人群的生物学特征。最准确的身高估计方法基于解剖重建（即完全法），其次是基于长骨的 I 型回归方程（例如普通最小二乘法 - OLS），最好是来自下肢。在某些情况下，由于所回收的骨骼材料的残缺性质，身高估计不得不依赖于其他元素，例如足部遗骸。在这项研究中，我们探索了基于不同足部骨骼的身高估计：阿非利加人和欧罗巴人的距骨、跟骨和跖骨 1-4。本研究采用的方法有两个新颖之处。首先，提供了每个骨骼的个体估计值，并将跗骨和跖骨组合起来以获得更准确的估计值。其次，使用了基于 I 型回归方程的稳健统计方法，即最小 trimmed 平方和（LTS）。我们的结果表明，最适合估计身高的单个骨骼是第一和第二跖骨，以及距骨和跟骨。跗骨和跖骨的组合略微提高了身高估计的准确性。
