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Sex estimation of infants through geometric morphometric analysis of the ilium

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A Correction to this article was published on 13 November 2017

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Abstract

In archeology or forensics, the analysis of the ilia is often used to determine the age and sex of unknown individuals. However, sex determination using the skeletal remains of individuals who did not develop secondary sexual characteristics remains controversial. Accurately estimating the sex of subadults is hampered by a small number of studies based on identified skeletal collections of juvenile individuals. Here, we analyzed the sexual dimorphism of the subadult ilia using geometric morphometric techniques and individuals from the osteological collection of identified subadults from San José’s graveyard (Granada). Seventy-one left ilia from 40 males and 31 females aged between birth and 1 year were included in the analysis. Three landmarks and 27 semi-landmarks of the ilia were placed. By principal component analysis, we found that the size and shape of the ilia could be used to differentiate males and females.

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Change history

  • 13 November 2017

    After publication of the original article, it was brought to authors’ attention two errors that were included in the final publication.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to D. Jose Antonio Muñoz, Managing Director, Maribel Martín, Service Coordinator, and all EMUCESA staff at the San Jose cemetery in Granada for their assistance; to the Magistrate Judge (Court of First Instance no. 5) responsible for the Registry Office of Granada; and to the anonymous reviewers for their suggestions and indications. This work belongs to the author’s PhD studies in Biomedicine (B11.56.1) at the University of Granada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Anthropology, Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, University of Granada, 18012, Granada, Spain

    Enrique J. Estévez, Claudia López-Morago, Inmaculada Alemán & Miguel C. Botella

  2. Laboratory of Forensic Dentistry, Center for Applied Morphology Research, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad de La Frontera, 4780000, Temuco, Chile

    Sandra López-Lázaro

Authors
  1. Enrique J. Estévez
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  2. Sandra López-Lázaro
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  3. Claudia López-Morago
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  4. Inmaculada Alemán
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  5. Miguel C. Botella
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Correspondence to Enrique J. Estévez.

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Estévez, E.J., López-Lázaro, S., López-Morago, C. et al. Sex estimation of infants through geometric morphometric analysis of the ilium. Int J Legal Med 131, 1747–1756 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1659-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-017-1659-6

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