Journal of the Anthropological Society of Nippon

On the Classification of Fingerprints

MITSUO IWAMOTO

1962 Volume 69 Issue 3-4 Pages 101-117
Published: March 30, 1962
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.69.101

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The author's discussions on the classification of fingerprints are summarized as follows:
1. When four fingerprint types, arch (A), radial loop (RL), ulnar loop (UL) and whorl (W) are distinguished, the combinations of W with A, RL and UL are especially difficult to appear (table 1).
2. Three subtypes (RW, UW and DW) were distinguished in W by its relation to RL and UL (fig. 2). The combination of RW with RL and that of UW with UL are comparatively easy, but that of DW with RL or UL is difficult to appear (table 3 and fig. 3).
3. The distributions in the quantity of ridges of RL and UL (fig. 5a) may be attributable to the complex of such two diagramatic distributions as illustrated in figure 5a', and A may be the intermediate type between RL and UL(fig. 4 and 5). There are no greatdifferences in the quantity of ridges among RW, UW and DW (fig. 7). Concerning the quantity of ridges, it is also important that the tendency of direct correlation is observed between two types of different winding ridge-directions (table 5 and fig. 8). A comparatively conspicuous discrepancy in the quantity of ridges, therefore, is pointed out between A-RL-UL and W, the quantity of ridges of the latter being more than that of the former (fig. 9).
4. It may be difficult to say that the present classifications, which have been generally adopted, are sufficiently consistent in both criteria of classifications, namely the winding directions (R and U) and the quantity of ridges in fingerprints.

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Estimation of Sex Ratio in a Series of Excavated Skeletal Materials

BIN YAMAGUCHI

1962 Volume 69 Issue 3-4 Pages 118-127
Published: March 30, 1962
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.69.118

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Introduction. Some thirty human skeletal remains, together with artifacts of the Okhotsk type (approx. A. D. 1000), were discovered at Omisaki in the northernmost part of the Okhotsk coast in Hokkaido. The remains were excavated by workmen; but were deposited in boxes and reburied at another site, according to ordinary cus tom, Shortly thereafter, the boxes in which the bones had been placed in a random order were re-excavated by the author. Such being the circumstances, it was exceedingly difficult to identify the individual skeletal sets. Thus our attention was shifted to the statistical study of each bone series rather than the study of individual skeletal sets. The most difficult point in the anthropological investigation of this material was the determination of the sex of each bone. If the individual set of skeleton had been preserved, the sex could have read ilybeen estimated by observing the skull and the pelvis or some coexisting artifacts. However, under such unfavorable conditions, we were forced, for instance, to identify the sex of the tibia quite separately from that of the femur.

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Anthropological Studies on the Kitami-Ainu, Shari in Hokkaido

MOTOTSUGU KOHAMA, SHOTARO KATO, SANAE KANDA

1962 Volume 69 Issue 3-4 Pages 128-140
Published: March 30, 1962
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.69.128

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In the summers of 1957-58, somatometrical and somatoscopical investigations were made on the present Ainu of Shari in Kitami province, Hokkaido.
In comparison with the Ainu of other provinces, Shari-Ainu was higher in stature and slightly shorter in leg length, biacromial and biiliac diameters. The mean values of the head length and the cephalic index of the Shari-Ainu were 189.67mm and 79.83 respectively, showing that their head is shorter and far greater in cephalic index than those of the other Ainu. The most distinctive traits of the Shari-Ainu were larger facial and nasal height.
So far as metrical values are concerned, Shari-Ainu tended to differ from the pure Ainu and resemble to the Japanese in the north-east district of Japan, suggesting that the Shari-Ainu is closely mixed with the Japanese. The cephalic characteristics of the Shari-Ainu seemed to suggest that they were not related to the Moyoro skulls which were excavated from the shell-mound in Abashiri.

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Poisons and Venoms used for Hunting by the Ainu

in Yeso (Hokkaido): A Study of Ethno-toxicology

MOTOSUKE ISHIKAWA

1962 Volume 69 Issue 3-4 Pages 141-153
Published: March 30, 1962
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.69.141

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The Ainu, a tribe who has inhabited in the northernmost area of Japan, the area which has traditionally been called "Yeso", used toxic substances of various kinds for hunting and fishing. Aconite (surku in Ainu), Ikema (penup in Ainu), Naniwazu (ketuhas in Ainu) and Aka-ei (aikoro chiep in Ainu), Japanese sting ray, were the most popular toxic substances used for the purposes.
Since we have already published a report on Aconite, we should like to take up here the rest of the substances, that is to say, Ikema, Naniwazu and Aka-ei.
1) Ikema (Cynanchum caudatum Maxim.)
Ikema is a climbing plant. The Ainu mix beaten roots of this plant with the flesh of the salmon. They stuff salmon with this mixture and leave the stuffed salmon in haunting places of Bering Island Raven (Corvus corax behringianus Dyb.). Those Bering Island Raven who have pecked Ikema in the flesh of the salmon become intoxicated and giddy and loose balance to be readily captured by hunters.
2) Naniwazu (Daphne kamtchatica Maxim, var. yesoensis Ohwi)
This plant grows into a shrub of about 1 meter in height. The Ainu make use of the plant for catching Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens Illiger) by smearing its sap on a harpoon or lance heads.
3) Aka-ei (Dasyatis akajei Müller & Henle)
The habitat of Aka-ei ranges from the tropics, sub-tropics to temperate zones. When grown up, the fish measures 1 meter or so in length. Its caudal sting (about 7-10 cm long) contains a venom. There are three ways of using the venom for hunting:
a) To use the caudal sting as a lance to stab bears.
b) To grind the caudal sting into powder and to spread it on the arrow heads together with aconite.
c) To stick the caudal sting to the arrow heads. The Ainu use it repeatedly by sharpening it when its head is broken.
As is evident from the above descriptions, plant poisons are used in the cases of 1) and 2) and the fish venom in the case of 3). Where did these methods of hunting and fishing using poisons and the venom originate? In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to make comparative studies between these methods of the Ainu and those of other tribes inhabiting in areas north of Yeso, such as Gilyak, Chukuchee, Koryak, Kamchadal, Yukagir, Aleut and Pacific Eskimo. To achive this end, it may also be necessary to make studies on the religious aspect of their life and on ceremonies and rites practiced by those tribes with regard to hunting and fishing.

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A Study on the Variations in Toe and Finger Print Pattern Expressions

On the Relationship between Toe and Finger Prints viewed from the Sexual and Bilateral Distinctions of Pattern Type Frequencies

GORO SHIMA

1962 Volume 69 Issue 3-4 Pages 154-176
Published: March 30, 1962
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.69.154

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It is well known that pattern expressions are different in toe and finger prints, that there are sexual and bilateral distinctions in toe and finger prints and that both pattern frequencies and distributions of individual toe or finger are subject to sexual and bilateral distinctions.
A study is made of the pattern expressions in toe and finger prints in the same individual in reference to the variations in sexual and bilateral distinctions.
The persons examined are 6, 183 males and 6, 317 females, 12, 500 in total. The results of the study are as follows :
(1) Sexual differences of pattern expressions in toe and finger prints are shown in series, i, e., toes on the left : toes on the right : fingers on the left : fingers on the right. The pattern expressions change with a gradient demonstrating a contrast between the left toe side and the right finger side.
(2) Bilateral differences of pattern expressions in toe and finger prints are shown in series, i, e., toes in the female : toes in the male : fingers in the female : fingers in the male. The pattern expressions change with a gradient demonstrating a contrast between female toes and male fingers.
(3) With regard to the pattern, marked variations are observed in the sexual differences of fingers on the right, and in bilateral differences of male fingers. It is revealed that sexual and bilateral differences are simpler in toes than in fingers.
(4) The finding that the sexual and bilateral differences of toe and finger pattern expressions follow the above mentioned difinite series seems to indicate the presence of a noticeable feature of apical pattern in toes and fingers.

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A Yayoi-Man's Skull from the Koura-Site, Izumo, with a Greenish Coloring and a Deformation

Takeo KANASEKI, Takahiko OGATA

1962 Volume 69 Issue 3-4 Pages 177-182
Published: March 30, 1962
Released on J-STAGE: February 26, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1537/ase1911.69.177

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A description and a discussion are given by the authors on a round shaped greenish coloring, seemingly caused by a decorative bronze disc on the squamal surface in the supraglabellar region of a male human skull from the Koura-site of the Earlier Yayoi-period together with an unnatural flatness of the bone surface in the supraasterional region on both sides of the same skull. According to the authors, these seem to have been caused by an incessant use, from an early age onward, of a headband with a copper disc fastened to it in front. This, being an unique instance among the Koura skulls, appears to indicate that the individual in question might have been of a special duty, presumably of a religious one.

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