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Validation of discriminant functions from the rib necks in two Portuguese adult identified populations

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Abstract

Sexual dimorphism is the basis for sex estimation research in skeletal remains, helping the positive identification of individuals in forensic backgrounds. In this regard, it has been proved that the metrical analysis of the costal neck of the first four ribs in Spanish contemporary adult skeletons shows high sexual dimorphism, especially in the first rib. However, the validation of any method developed in identified skeletal collections must be compulsorily reproduced in other skeletonized sets to verify either its potential application in individuals from other locations, or the existence of possible biases associated with inter-population variation. Due to the geographical and socioeconomic proximity between Spain and Portugal, this paper aims to check the utility of the discriminant functions designed by Partido-Navadijo et al. (2021) in the two skeletal collections of the University of Coimbra (Portugal). Results show the utility of these discriminant functions in Portuguese population, with frequencies of cases correctly assigned reaching up to 93.6% in the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection (CISC); and up to 92.6% in the 21st Century Identified Skeletal Collection (CEI/XXI). However, two particularities between the Spanish and Portuguese osteological assemblages can be highlighted: the possible existence of secular changes in relation to the CISC collection (1904–1938); and a reversal in the degree of costal dimorphism, being the third and fourth ribs of the CEI/XXI collection more dimorphic than the first ones.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank EMUCESA, the company in charge of the San José Cemetery in Granada, as well as the Anthropology Laboratories of the University of Granada and the University of Coimbra for the access to the osteological material used for the present study, and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.

Funding

The author Manuel Partido Navadijo work is financed by the FPU Research and Teaching Fellowships (Formación de Profesorado Universitario), 2018 announcement, from the Ministry of Universities of the Government of Spain, ref. FPU18/00669. The co-author Maria Teresa Ferreira work falls within the scope of the R&D Unit Centre for Functional Ecology–Science for People and the Planet (CFE), with reference UIDB/04004/2020, financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Antropología, Dpto de Medicina Legal, Toxicología y Antropología Física, Universidad de Granada, Avda. de la Investigación, 11, 18006, Granada, Spain

    Manuel Partido Navadijo & Inmaculada Alemán Aguilera

  2. Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal

    Álvaro M. Monge Calleja & Maria Teresa Ferreira

  3. Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal

    Maria Teresa Ferreira

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  1. Manuel Partido Navadijo
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  4. Inmaculada Alemán Aguilera
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Correspondence to Manuel Partido Navadijo.

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Partido Navadijo, M., Monge Calleja, Á.M., Ferreira, M.T. et al. Validation of discriminant functions from the rib necks in two Portuguese adult identified populations. Int J Legal Med 137, 851–861 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-023-02957-8

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