Geometric morphometric study of the regional variation of modern human craniofacial form

The regional variability of the modern human craniofacial form is of importance to debates about human origins. The study of craniofacial form has generally been carried out either by interlandmark distance measurement and analysis or by observation and character scoring. In this study of four modern human groups (Eskimo/Inuit, African, Australian, and Romano-British), nine craniofacial landmark coordinates were recorded by extraction from laser scans. The coordinates were studied by geometric morphometrics, and a regression analysis was used to investigate the dominant variability in shape within and between groups. Statistical tests of shape difference between groups were carried out. By these methods, the statistical patterns of shape variability and their geometric interpretations were studied on a common basis. The results were found to be in agreement with the classic studies of Howells ([1989:189] Pap Peabody Mus 79), and show the potential of this approach for future research. Am J Phys Anthropol 117:37-48, 2002. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.