Genetic sex obtained from human dental calculus in 12th-19th C. British individuals
Objectives: For anthropologists, archaeologists and forensic scientists, sex estimation using skeletally dimorphic traits is a fundamental component of biological profile reconstruction. Archaeogenetic research on past populations also allows us to identify genetic sex, creating the opportunity to validate the accuracy of commonly used skeletal traits. Our research compares genetic sex estimates, derived from aDNA analysis of dental calculus, with macroscopic skeletal observations, to ascertain the applicability of these methods on British skeletons.  Materials and Methods: Dental calculus was sampled from 146 individuals from two British sites (Barton-upon-Humber and St James's Gardens (London)), and genetic sex obtained. A combination of frequently analysed skull and os coxae traits were assessed to determine overall osteological sex; individual skeletal traits were also evaluated separately. These were then compared to genetic sex.  Results: We found high agreement between overall osteological sex and genetic sex (97.8%); use of the os coxa, only, demonstrated almost perfect agreement (97.0%). Skull-based estimates were less accurate (78.6%), consistent with previous studies. Individual Phenice traits of the pubis demonstrated the greatest accuracy (80.2-97.5%), whilst multiple skull traits performed poorly (59.2-68.3%).  Discussion: Overall, application of osteological sex estimation techniques to British remains was highly accurate, especially using combined traits of the os coxa. However, we identified a number of skeletal features that are not reliable in isolation, highlighting the dangers of relying on too few traits. We also emphasise the need for further work assessing factors that affect pelvic morphology, and the benefits of using dental calculus as a source of aDNA.
Objectives: For anthropologists, archaeologists and forensic scientists, sex estimation using skeletally dimorphic traits is a fundamental component of biological profile reconstruction. Archaeogenetic research on past populations also allows us to identify genetic sex, creating the opportunity to validate the accuracy of commonly used skeletal traits. Our research compares genetic sex estimates, derived from aDNA analysis of dental calculus, with macroscopic skeletal observations, to ascertain the applicability of these methods on British skeletons.  Materials and Methods: Dental calculus was sampled from 146 individuals from two British sites (Barton-upon-Humber and St James's Gardens (London)), and genetic sex obtained. A combination of frequently analysed skull and os coxae traits were assessed to determine overall osteological sex; individual skeletal traits were also evaluated separately. These were then compared to genetic sex.  Results: We found high agreement between overall osteological sex and genetic sex (97.8%); use of the os coxa, only, demonstrated almost perfect agreement (97.0%). Skull-based estimates were less accurate (78.6%), consistent with previous studies. Individual Phenice traits of the pubis demonstrated the greatest accuracy (80.2-97.5%), whilst multiple skull traits performed poorly (59.2-68.3%).  Discussion: Overall, application of osteological sex estimation techniques to British remains was highly accurate, especially using combined traits of the os coxa. However, we identified a number of skeletal features that are not reliable in isolation, highlighting the dangers of relying on too few traits. We also emphasise the need for further work assessing factors that affect pelvic morphology, and the benefits of using dental calculus as a source of aDNA.