Griffith, Maura Kathleen; (2023) Sex Estimation of Juvenile Skeletal Remains Utilizing Cervical Measurements of Teeth. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Sex estimation is one of the primary components of the biological profile. As a result, sex is one of the primary axes upon which bioarchaeological research turns. At present, the biological profile of physiologically juvenile (non-adult, subadult) skeletal remains is incomplete – there is no consensus method for accurate sex estimation of physiologically juvenile or adolescent individuals. Previously suggested methods using osseous elements – such as the ilium or cranium – are impacted by differences in achieved development of those elements. The timing and trajectory of the development of osseous elements is impacted by sex, age, and sociocultural variables, such as nutrition. This work proposes 19 novel sex estimation methods for non-adult skeletal remains using measurements permanent and deciduous teeth at the cementum-enamel junction (CEJ). Dental development is less impacted by nutritional deficiencies and is relatively stable compared to osseus development, making cervicometrics ideal for use in a wide range of bioarchaeological contexts. Cervical measurements of more than 400 unique individuals from five different documented collections were used to generate classification functions using discriminant function analysis and binary logistic regression. Two different methods for determining a univariate threshold point were also investigated for each tooth measurement. In order to replicate circumstances that may be found in bioarchaeological contexts, classification functions for just the maxilla, just the mandible, and both arcades were investigated. The efficacy of classification functions is assessed using positive and negative predictive values for each function. Eighteen univariate and multivariate models using permanent CEJ measurements and one multivariate model using deciduous CEJ measurements surpass 75% accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. This work demonstrates the strengths of a dental sex estimation approach for juvenile skeletal remains. The new cervicometric methods are population agnostic and may be used as a universal juvenile sex estimation method.

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