Author/Editor		Friess, Martin
Title		An application of the relative warps 106analysis to problems in human paleontology - with notes on raw data quality
Type		članek
Source		Image Anal Stereol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 22, št. 1
Publication year		2003
Volume		str. 63-72
Language		eng
Abstract		This study investigates the use of geometric morphometrics as well as methodological aspects specifically related to its application in paleoanthropology. Based on lateral photographs taken from a fossil sample of 58 specimens, a relative warps analysis was computed in order to assess the variation of cranial shape among various hominin groups. The fossil sample represents Middle and Late Pleistocene populations commonly assigned to H. erectus, H. neanderthalensis, archaic H. sapiens as well as anatomically modern H. sapiens. The preliminary results indicate that several fossil skulls considered as belonging to archaic H. sapiens have a distinct shape compared to modern humans. The results suggest that these hominins are not as closely related to modern humans as previously thought. Instead, their morphometric affinities suggest that they are as distinct from modern humans as are the Neandertals. Methodological aspects, such as raw data accuracy and the use of type 2 and 3 landmarks that are directly related to this type of quantitative analysis and that potentially affect their results, are discussed.
Descriptors		PALEONTOLOGY SKULL HOMINIDAE CRANIOMETRY IMAGE PROCESSING, COMPUTER-ASSISTED