Comparison of different methods for age estimation in adults

VYSTRČILOVÁ, Michaela and Vladimír NOVOTNÝ. Comparison of different methods for age estimation in adults. Collegium Antropologicum. Zagreb, 2002, vol. 2002, No 26, p. 235-236. ISSN 0350-6134.

Basic information

• Original name: Comparison of different methods for age estimation in adults
• Authors: VYSTRČILOVÁ, Michaela and Vladimír NOVOTNÝ.
• Edition: Collegium Antropologicum, Zagreb, 2002, 0350-6134.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: Archaeology, anthropology, ethnology
• Country of publisher: Croatia
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 0.306
• Organization unit: Faculty of Science
• Keywords in English: methods-skeletal remains-osteology-histology-age estimation-comparison

Abstract

The estimation of age at death is a crucial step for the identification of all individuals. We used dental and osteological techniques (both morphological and histological) to estimate the age, on recent samples of 35 teeth and 47 ribs, of which the time of death is known, and of 36 individuals from historical skeletal material. Altogether we produced 161 sections of one-rooted teeth (mainly incisors) and ribs (81 sections from the recent and 80 sections from the historical sample). We also produced 72 X-rays of femurs and humerus from the historical material. In our study we performed different methods estimating age at death modification of Gustafson method, osteon counting in the rib cortex, and standard morphological methods. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the histological dental technique is the most effective method for the estimation of age. We also support the use of standard morphological methods in their combination. The worst results were established after the age estimation on the basis of evaluation of the rib sections. The results are useful not only for the anthropologists but also for the forensics in the identification of solitary skeletal remains.