USE OF MULTIVARIATE TECHNIQUES IN STUDY OF SKELETAL POPULATIONS

A major problem in taxonomic or evolutionary studies (micro or macro) of populations through their skeletal remains is what to do about single specimens, or samples of half a dozen, or fragments of skeletons. Multivariate analysis makes possible finer distinctions of all sorts than does univariate analysis, including sex and population assignment, allowing such placement objectively when adequate samples of identified populations are available to form the multivariate context. The history and essential nature of multivariate analysis is described briefly, and examples of its application to single specimens (the Fish Hoek and Keilor skulls) are given. Copyright © 1969 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company