Assessment of height & body mass

Bioarchaeological analysis

The height and body mass are key variables in bioarchaeological analysis. Aside from the body shape, these are important data that allow us to reconstruct the individuals’ living standards.

Environmental factors related with human health and diet determine whether an individual will reach one’s genetic height potential.

Anatomical method

The anatomical method is applied when all bones of the skeleton that contribute to an individual’s height have been preserved.

The anatomical method is more reliable, however its application is not always feasible, due to the partial preservation of the skeleton.

Mathematical method

The mathematical method allows us to estimate the height based only on the measurements of long bones, such as the femur or the tibia.

Genetic determination

Height is a polygenic trait, i.e. a characteristic that is affected by a large number of different genes, as well as environmental factors.

The genetic method of height determination entails the calculation of a value, based on all height-related genes and the comparison of this value with a reference system. The outcome is the “genetic predisposition” of the individual, i.e. a range of values that indicate one’s height potential.

Body mass

The body mass is yet another characteristic that helps compose the osteobiography of an individual. Taking specific measurements from the femur and pelvis bones, we can reconstruct an individual’s body type.

The hunter-gatherer of Astypalea

The memory keeper

The mother

The Lacedaemonian

The woman with the trepanned skull

The nobleman

The lady

The history observer

The city dweller

The warrior

Assessment of height & body mass

Bioarchaeological analysis

Anatomical method

Mathematical method

Genetic determination

Body mass

From
bone fragments
to human
stories

The hunter-gatherer of Astypalea

The memory keeper

The mother

The Lacedaemonian

The woman with the trepanned skull

The nobleman

The lady

The history observer

The city dweller

The warrior

Assessment of height & body mass

Bioarchaeological analysis

From bone fragments to human stories

From
bone fragments
to human
stories