An Exploration of Adult Body Shape and Limb Proportions at Kellis 2, Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt

    Authors

    M. M. Bleuze; S. M. Wheeler; T. L. Dupras; L. J. Williams;J. El Molto

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Am. J. Phys. Anthropol.

    Keywords

    Egypt; ecogeographic patterning; intralimb proportions; ECOGEOGRAPHIC EXPECTATIONS; JOMON FORAGERS; SIZE; STATURE; CLIMATE; STRESS; EUROPE; AGRICULTURALISTS; POPULATIONS; EVOLUTION; Anthropology; Evolutionary Biology

    Abstract

    Several studies have shown that the human body generally conforms to the ecogeographical expectations of Bergmann's and Allen's rules; however, recent evidence suggests that these expectations may not hold completely for some populations. Egypt is located at the crossroads of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Europe, and the Near East, and gene flow among groups in these regions may confound ecogeographical patterning. In this study, we test the fit of the adult physique of a large sample (N=163) of females and males from the Kellis 2 cemetery (Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt) against ecogeographical predictions. Body shape (i.e., body mass relative to stature) was assessed by the femur head diameter to bicondylar femur length index (FHD/BFL), and brachial and crural indices were calculated to examine intralimb proportions. Body shape in the Kellis 2 sample is not significantly different from high-latitude groups and a Lower Nubian sample, and intralimb proportions are not significantly different from mid-latitude and other low-latitude groups. This study demonstrates the potential uniqueness of body shape and intralimb proportions in an ancient Egyptian sample, and further highlights the complex relationship between ecogeographic patterning and adaptation. Am J Phys Anthropol 153:496-505, 2014. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

    Journal Title

    American Journal of Physical Anthropology

    Volume

    153

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    496

    Last Page

    505

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000331224500014

    ISSN

    0002-9483

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