title: Racial identification in the context of prehistoric-historic biological continua: examples from South Asia.
abstract: The practice of 'racial palaeontology' disappeared 50 years ago with the fall of the biological race concept in systematics and population genetics. However, certain ethnic minorities claim close biological affinities with extinct (sometimes Pleistocene) populations. Forensic anthropologists may be involved in this issue through analyses of prehistoric and modern populations in circumstances where a biological continuum may exist. Skeletal evidence from South Asia is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Ecology and Systematics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiment
mesh_terms: D000885:Anthropology, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D001211:Asia, Western; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D010163:Paleontology / Q000379:methods*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics