Cephalic index in crania bosniaca since prehistoric times to recent hominids

Abstract

By this study we tried to identify autochthonous types of skulls in Bosnia and Herzegovina observed through a long period of time. We also made an effort to examine the correlation between the observed parameters: Cephalic index and its categorization which arises from the above mentioned parameter in reference to the time period the skull originates from.The research was conducted on a specimen of 196 macerated and degreased skulls, 82 of which belong to the osteological collection of the Department of Archeology-Chair of Prehistory, Antique Period and Middle Ages-of the State Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. From the osteological collection of the department of Anatomy of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo, a total of 114 skulls have been examined, 57 of which were skulls of male gender and 57 of female gender. On each of the examined skulls we determined length and width of the skull by applying the osteometric method. The cephalic index is in positive correlation with the period the skulls originate from. The cephalic index is not in correlation with gender structure of skulls in frames of recent period of time. The cephalic index suggests tendency of slight downfall from the prehistoric times to the Antique period, with a tendency of growth afterwards. Our results suggest that in the areas of today’s Bosnia from the prehistoric times to the Antique times there was a slight decrease in average value of cephalic index, which had a tendency of growth after wards. Categorization of skulls goes in direction of dolichocrany to brachicrany moving toward more recent time period the skulls originate from, considering that in the anthropological development two evolutional tendencies began: Gracilization and brachycranization.

Keywords

• Antic period skull; cephalic index; craniometry; middle ages skull; prehistoric skull; recent period skull; skull

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