Sexual dimorphism in directional asymmetry of the upper limb bones among Khoe-San skeletons.
Right side-biased directional asymmetries in upper limb bones are described for non-human primates, modern humans and also for historical populations. According to numerous studies the degree of bilateral asymmetries varies by sex, possibly due to sex-typical labor division. The present study focused on sexual dimorphism in bilateral asymmetries of the upper limb bones among a historical Khoe-San skeletal sample, the Pöch Collection housed at the Department of Anthropology at the University of Vienna. Forty metric dimensions of humeri, ulnae, radii and clavicles of 83 adult Khoe-San individuals were measured. Directional and absolute asymmetries of each measurement were calculated. With the exception of maximal clavicle length, a significant right-biased asymmetry could be documented for both sexes. Regarding sex differences, it could be shown that a markedly greater percentage of right side dominant asymmetry of humerus length and upper limb length was found among females, while male skeletons exhibited a significantly greater percentage of absolute asymmetry in breadth and circumference dimensions, indicating a greater asymmetry in traits of robustness. These sex differences can be interpreted as a result of sex-typical labor division in this traditional historical population.
Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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Department of Anthropology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: sylvia.kirchengast@univie.ac.at.
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Kirchengast
D000328:Adult; D000353:Africa, Southern; D000885:Anthropology, Physical; D050280:Arm Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002968:Clavicle / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000266:history; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D011884:Radius / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014457:Ulna / Q000033:anatomy & histology