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Research Article
Estimation of adult skeletal age-at-death: statistical assumptions and applications
Article first published online: 22 SEP 2006
DOI: 10.1002/oa.867
Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
1099-1212/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=a9eda28198415345fff176c8e92fde1c78e8ad45 "International Journal of Osteoarchaeology")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Samworth, R. and Gowland, R. (2007), Estimation of adult skeletal age-at-death: statistical assumptions and applications. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 17: 174–188. doi: 10.1002/oa.867
Publication History
- Issue published online: 15 MAR 2007
- Article first published online: 22 SEP 2006
- Manuscript Accepted: 20 FEB 2006
- Manuscript Revised: 8 FEB 2006
- Manuscript Received: 4 OCT 2005
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- biological model;
- conditional distribution;
- linear regression;
- look-up table
Abstract
We examine the statistical assumptions underlying different techniques of estimating the age-at-death of a skeleton from one or more age indicators. The preferred method depends on which property of the distribution of the data in the reference sample is preserved in the skeleton to be aged. In cases where the conditional distribution of age given indicator is preserved, we provide ‘look-up’ tables giving essentially unbiased age estimates and prediction intervals, using a large reference sample and the auricular surface and pubic symphysis age indicators. Where this assumption is violated, but the conditional distribution of indicator given age is preserved, we find that an alternative model which attempts to capture the biological process of development of an individual has some attractive features, which may make it suitable for further study. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.