Original paper
The Polynesian chin and mandible
Dennison, John; Healey, David; Herbison, Peter
Anthropologischer Anzeiger Volume 65 No. 3 (2007), p. 241 - 252
32 references
published: Oct 5, 2007
published online: May 29, 2019
DOI: 10.1127/anthranz/65/2007/241
ArtNo. ESP140006503001, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
We noted the similarity in mandibular profile between a 27,000-year-old skull from China and a 160-year-old Polynesian skull. Both had a more vertical ramus, a curved inferior border, and no chin. The European mandible has a greater gonial angle, an antegonial notch, and a chin. Is the presence of a chin sufficient to distinguish European mandible from Polynesian? Can the gonial angle and ramus shape do so? A blind study of fifty mandibles of both groups and both sexes revealed that each feature alone can differentiate the sexes, but the combination is required, to differentiate European and Polynesian, and loosely group their provenances.
Keywords
Mandible • Polynesians • Europeans • chin • ramus • gonial angle • antegonial notch