Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
A
B
C
D
E
F
FIGURE 3.3
Auricular surface of the ilium, progressing from youngest (A) to oldest (F).
or females. Since their publication, this method has been widely used, but it has only recently
been subjected to scientific scrutiny.
Buckberry and Chamberlain (2002)
state that the rate of remodeling and degeneration of
the auricular surface can be highly variable between individuals and populations because of
the large effect life history has on the sacroiliac joint. They argued that the auricular surface
aging technique had not undergone the same level of scrutiny as the pubic symphyseal aging
technique. Therefore, in an attempt to accommodate more individual variation and make the
method easier to apply, they devised a component system similar to the
McKern and Stewart
(1957)
pubic symphysis method. Using the descriptions in
Lovejoy et al. (1985a)
, Buckberry
and Chamberlain devised progressive scores for transverse organization, surface texture,
microporosity, macroporosity, and morphological changes of the auricular surface's apex.
This study confirmed the applicability and reproducibility of the method and, upon cursory
examination, the different components (with the exception of the retroauricular surface)
showed a high correlation with true age.
The variable having the highest correlation with real age was the composite (sum) score of
all five variables. No significant difference was found between males and females. The final
