A comparison of the incidences of non-metric cranial variants in several polynesian populations.

概要

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In an attempt to evaluate biological affinities among South Pacific island people, SMITH'S Mean Measure of Divergence (MMD) statistic was applied to 24 non-metric cranial variants recorded on the samples of six Polynesian populations, namely, Mangaians in the southern Cook Islands, the outlier Polynesians of Taumako, Tongans on Tongatapu, and the North Island Maori, South Island Maori and Chatham Islands Moriori of the New Zealand group. In addition, those variants that were more variable or more differentiated among the populations sampled were selectively discussed in some detail. A cluster analysis of the MMD values between the study populations revealed that Mangaian's crania showed the closest affinity to Taumako outliers', and that they both were more similar in the incidences of such variants to the Tongan crania rather than to the New Zealand cranial series. The three New Zealand series combined to form another relatively tight cluster. Thus, a probability was suggested that early Mangaians and Taumako outliers biologically belonged to the western faction of Polynesians, which included the peoples of Tonga, Samoa and the nearby island groups. The antegonial notch was the most variable in frequency among the study populations of the 24 variants considered, followed by the palatine torus, the infraorbital suture, the mylohyoid bridging and the parietal notch in order.
日本人類学会の論文