Journal of the Anthropological Society of Nippon

Morphometrical and Dental Pathological Studies on Skulls from Yin-Shang Period

Naohiko INOUE, Yoshihiko TAKAHASHI, Reiko SAKASHITA, Ming-Li WU, Tadas ...

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 1-29
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.1

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Three hundred and ninety eight skulls from the Yin-Shang period of China were investigated. The purpose of the present study is (1) to test inter-group difference in morphometrical characters since the samples were reported to be classified into several subgroups (YOUNG, 1985a, b); (2) to analyze the distribution pattern of dental disorders; (3) to find relationships between morphological characters and food culture.
On the basis of preliminary examination, 186 male skulls from the six subgroups were selected for craniometric as well as roentgenographic cephalometric measurements and the examination of dental disorders.
The results obtained are as follows: (1) statistically significant inter-group differences in morphometrics support YOUNG's initial classification of subgroups; (2) insignificant inter-group difference in dental disorders may suggest that there was no apparent dietary difference among subgroups; (3) it does not seem inducible that the dental disorders are modified by morphological characters; (4) a unique distribution pattern of dental caries in the subgroup II is likely to suggest life history different from those of the other subgroups; (5) the dominant reductive trend of lower face in the subgroup V may suggest their superiority in social status. Key Words Yin-Shang period, Skeletal remains, Craniometrics, Roentgenographic cephalometrics, Dental disorders

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Different Growth Status of Youths Aged 18 from 27 Chinese Minority Nations

Cheng-ye JI, Seiji OHSAWA

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 31-42
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.31

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This study focused on studying the morphological similarities of 27 Chinese minority nations' youths aged 18 by using PCA-Q mode cluster analysis. Six measurements of body size, two indices of body shape and four indices of growth tempo (which were estimated from cross-sectional data of 69, 389 subjects aged 7 through 18 by using proportional interpolation method) were used as variables. The values of these variables were normalized into principal component scores, and clustering was done among 27 nations according to the distances determined by their component scores (centroid method). Both for boys and girls, there were seven clusters fused at about 0.2 similarity level. The clusters thus formed not only described the significant differences among themselves but also showed closed associations between the geographic, ecologic and socio-economic differences and youth's growth status. The consistency of clustering tendency between children aged 7 (JI and OHSAWA, 1991) and youths aged 18 of these minority nations was also verified.

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Frequencies of Occurrence of Accessory Tubercles and Other Traits in the Lower Deciduous Second Molar

Eisaku KANAZAWA, Mitsuo SEKIKAWA, Masahito NATORI, Yoshimitsu KAMIAKIT ...

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 43-51
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.43

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The frequencies of occurrence of anomalous traits or tubercles on the lower second deciduous molar were investigated with the use of moire contourgraphy. A molar with negligible attrition was fixed in the tricuspal position where the position of the protoconid, metaconid and hypoconid were in a horizontal plane. A moire photograph in the pitch of 0.2 mm was thus obtained and examined. The frequency of occurrence of a tubercle was counted in three grades according to its contour patterns. The traits and their sex-pooled frequencies were as follows (n=45): (1) Mesial Accessory Tubercle, 17.8%;(2) Metaconid Mesial Accessory Tubercle, 8.9%;(3) Metaconid Distal Accessory Tubercle, 57.8%; (4) Distal Trigonid Crest, 17.8%;(5) Deflecting Wrinkle, 46.7%;(6) Sixth Cusp, 35.5%; (7) Entoconid Mesial Accessory Ridge, 0%; (8) Protostylid, 73.3%. The incidences of the traits were compared with those in the permanent first molars previously studied. The traits nos. 2, 3, 4 and 8 were significantly more frequent in the deciduous molars than in the permanent ones when tested by χ2 test. On the other hand, the frequencies of trait nos. 1, 5, 6 and 7 were not significantly different between both molars. Three of four traits showing significant difference located around the metaconid, which indicated the high morphological variability of the metaconid in the deciduous lower second molar.

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Biological Relationships among Southeast Asians, Jomonese, and the Pacific Populations as Viewed from Dental Characters: The Basic Populations in East Asia, X

Tsunehiko HANIHARA

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 53-67
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.53

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Morphological patterns of similarity and difference derived from an assessment of metric and non-metric dental characters in a series of Jomonese and their lineage in Japan, Southeast Asians, Micronesians, and Polynesians were presented. Despite the marked difference of phenotypic features, the dentitions of Negritos, Dajaks, and Filipinos show close resemblance to each other. The original dental traits of Southeast Asians may have occurred by the result of convergent microevolution under the similar environmental condition such as tropical rain-forest. Diachronic comparison of Southeast Asian dental samples supports the local evolution hypothesis for modern Southeast Asian dental characters. Dental traits of Micronesians and Polynesians are more like those of Southeast Asians than those of Jomonese and their lineage. The present findings do not favor the Neolithic Jomonese as the most likely source for the present people in Micronesia and Polynesia. Jomonese may be linked with the Pacific populations through the common gene pool derived from somewhere in Southeast Asia.

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A Comparative Neuroprimatological Study on the Inferior Olivary Nuclei (from the STEPHAN's Collection)

Shozo MATANO

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 69-82
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.69

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In 2 species of Tupaiidae, 17 species of prosimians, 12 species of New World monkeys, 10 species of Old World monkeys, Hylobates, Gorilla, Pan and human (the STEPHAN'S collection), volumes of the inferior olivary nuclei (principal-IOPr, accessory-IOAc) were measured. The phylogenetical development was studied by using allometry based upon the regression line of 17 species of prosimians. Volume ratios of IOPr and IOAc to medulla oblongata were also examined.
The IOPr evolved progressively from prosimians to human, whereas the IOAc were independent of a general evolutionary trend of primates. The IOAc in great apes and human are far inferior to the average prosimian level. Among the monkeys, the arboreal quadrupedal type develops maintaining a balance between the IOPr and the IOAc in comparison with the semi-brachiation and the Old World terrestrial quadrupedal types. Putting these results together with those of the ventral pons (MATANO et al., 1985b), cerebellar nuclear complex (MATANO et al., 1985a) and the vestibular nuclear complex (MATANO, 1986), some considerations were made in relation with the motor system centering around the cerebellum.

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Tooth Crown Size of Yayoi People in the North-West and the North of Kyushu

Joichi OYAMADA

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 83-100
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.83

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[in Japanese]

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Allometry of the Foot and the Shoe Last

Makiko KOUCHI, Nobutoshi YAMAZAKI

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 101-118
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.101

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Twenty measurements of the right foot were obtained from 528 adult male and 500 adult female Japanese. The measurements were analyzed to clarify the differences in foot proportions correlated with changes in foot length and circumference. Twenty-four shoe lasts of different lengths and circumferences were measured and analyzed to explain the shape changes caused by the grading. To investigate the appropriateness of the current grading method, the allometric changes in the foot were compared with the changes in the last caused by the grading. For the foot measurements, it was found that length measurements showed isometry, but breadth, height and circumference measurements indicated negative allometry to foot length (i.e., longer feet were more slender). At a given foot length, the increase of foot circumference resulted in wider ball breadth compared to heel breadth. There were discrepancies found between the shape differences of the lasts related to grading, and those in the foot related to the foot size. These discrepancies may result in a misfit of a shoe near the end of the size distribution. Possible factors influencing the allometry of the foot, and procedures to solve the problems in grading method and production technology of the shoe lasts are discussed.

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A Preliminary Report on Ritual Ablation of Anterior Teeth in Modern Kenyan

Naohiko INOUE, Reiko SAKASHITA, Tadashige NOZAKI, Tetsuya KAMEGI

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 119-123
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.119

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Recently, the authors visited the Republic of Kenya to have preliminary contact for developing a new research project on culture and dental disorders. During this tour, traits of tooth extraction in the mandibular anterior region were observed in eight people from four tribes. Hearing directly from these people, it was confirmed that the tooth extractions were done for ritual reasons at around six years of age by an elder person (Mzee) using a knife (Kisu). From the facts that the youngest case was 25 years old, and that the one who was 30 years old eagerly wanted to have the space repaired by false teeth, the new wave of modem culture seemed to reach the peripheral part of Kenya, and the ritual ablation of the teeth was considered to be terminating. In the present paper, preliminary information on ritual ablation in living populations was reported. Detailed quantitative information will be presented when the above-mentioned project comes to be achieved.

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Development of the Human Brain and Braincase

from the Viewpoint of Blood Vessel Distribution Pattern and Comparative Anatomy

Shoichi NAKAKUKI

1992 Volume 100 Issue 1 Pages 125-133
Published: 1992
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.100.125

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In general, the human head can be said to consist anatomically of two distinct parts, the neurocranium and the orbita-jaw cranium (Gesichts-Kiefer-Schadel; HOFER, 1956). The latter has shown a tendency to become reduced and degenerate during the course of human evolution, whereas the former has developed and enlarged. These features are presumably related to bipedalism. However, the relationship between the two parts has not been analyzed sufficiently up to now. The author attempted to compare the distribution patterns of the main arteries of the head in humans and some quadrupedal animals. In addition, some experiments were conducted on blood flow in the human head, using the model (tube system) shown in Fig. 5.
The distribution pattern of the main arteries in the human head is closely related to the development of the brain and neurocranium and the degeneration of the orbit-jaw cranium, and arranged so that less blood is sent to the latter part, and more to the former.
At the same time, on the basis of the comparative distribution patterns of the main arteries between orthograde humans and pronograde mammals, it is suggested that human bipedalism may have promoted the development of the human brain and neurocranium.

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