The use of the coefficient of agreement and likelihood ratio test to examine the development of the tympanic plate using a known-age sample of fetal and infant skeletons.

Previous attempts to use the development of the tympanic plate as an aging standard for fetal and infant cranial remains have either produced only a developmental sequence (Anderson, 1960), or a sequence for which age has been estimated using another independent aging standard (Weaver, 1979). Following an evaluation of the first three stages of development of the tympanic plate using a known-age-sample of fetal and infant skeletal remains, a simple test of interobserver agreement, Cohen's coefficient of agreement (Cohen, 1960), is demonstrated using the developmental stages.