Populational Affinities of the Peruvian with Siberians and North Americans: A Nonmetric Cranial Approach

Abstract

Nonmetric traits of Peruvian skulls were examined for evidence bearing on their populational affinities. Significant frequency differences from the Peruvian gradually increased in number with geographic distance, and clines were seen in the frequency patterns of several traits of cranial series compared. Distance analyses based on the MMDs revealed that the Peruvian and Ontario Iroquois formed an intimate cluster, which shows a closer affinity with the Arctic peoples, especially the Aleut, than with other Siberians. As a result, we can conclude that the American Indians are derived from the North Asian populations including the Arctic peoples, though their exact origins remain unclear.