Sex estimation by the patterns of lip impressions (cheiloscopy) – an analysis of a Croatian sample and a scoping review

Aim: To determine whether there is sexual dimorphism of lip prints’ morphological features in the Croatian population and to provide a scoping review for the accuracy of sex estimation on lip prints. Methods: The study on the Croatian population included 88 male and 88 female (median age 25, range 18 - 50) participants. Lip prints were analyzed by quadrant, and then the predominant pattern on the entire lip was observed. A systematic search of the relevant bibliographical databases was conducted, including Medline, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), and Cinahl (October 23rd, 2020). OpenGrey, Open Science Framework, and Science.gov databases were searched for grey literature. Findings were reported in the narrative form in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. A total of 80 studies were included. Results: The study of sexual dimorphism of lip prints in the Croatian population showed that there were no statistically significant differences between males and females; and when all quadrants were considered together (χ2 = 3.625, P = 0.459), sex could be estimated for only 55.7% of persons. Twenty-nine studies (36.3%) did not find differences between males and females, and 34 (42.5%) found sexual dimorphism only in some of the lip parts and some quadrants. The assessment of examined studies showed that only six studies met all quality criteria. Conclusion: There is no forensically significant sexual dimorphism in lip prints in the Croatian population. The scoping review showed that sex estimation using lip prints should not be used as evidence in court as the present methodology is not reliable and the potential rate of error is unknown

Artificially deformed skull or craniosynostosis? – the challenges of differential diagnostics in physical anthropology

CILJ: Istraživanje razlika između morfoloških značajki lubanje kod patoloških promjena (kraniosinostoza) i umjetnih deformacija lubanje na primjeru lubanje pronađenoj na nalazištu Solin – Smiljanjovac u grobu 110. METODE: Priprema i analiza koštanih ostataka pronađenih u grobu 110 temelji se u prvom koraku od pranja, sušenja i stavljanja koštanog materijala u anatomski položaj. Procjenjuje se stupanj očuvanosti koštanih ostataka, boja kostiju, spol i doživljena dob. Lubanja se klasificira s obzirom na vanjsku morfologiju svoda i uspoređuju se karakteristike umjetno deformirane lubanje s patološkim stanjem kraniosinostoze. REZULTATI: Stupanj očuvanosti koštanih ostataka ocijenjen je ocjenom 3, a kosti su svijetlo žute boje. Dob u trenutku smrti procjenjuje se na 25 – 35 godina, a na temelju morfologije lubanje, donje čeljusti i dugih kostiju zaključuje se kako se radi o koštanim ostacima ženske osobe. S obzirom na vanjsku morfologiju svoda lubanje svrstana je u kategoriju kružno – kose deformacije, a usporedbom karakteristika umjetno deformirane lubanje i patološkog stanja kraniosinostoze svrstana je pod umjetno deformiranu lubanju. ZAKLJUČAK: Lubanja pronađena na području salonitanske nekropole pravi je primjer korištenja prakse umjetne deformacije lubanje, a ne patološkog stanja kraniosinostoze.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences between the morphological characteristics of the skull in pathological changes (craniosynostosis) and artificial deformations of the skull on the example of the skull found at the Solin - Smiljanjovac site in grave 110. METHODS: The preparation and analysis of bone remains found in grave 110 is based on the first step of washing, drying, and placing the bone material in an anatomical position. The degree of preservation of bone remains, bone color, sex and age are assessed. The skull is classified according to the external morphology of the arch and the characteristics of the artificially deformed skull are compared with the pathological condition of craniosynostosis. RESULTS: The degree of preservation of bone remains was rated 3, and the bones are light yellow. Age at the time of death is estimated at 25-35 years, and based on the morphology of the skull, lower jaw, and long bones, it is concluded that these are the bone remains of a woman. Considering the external morphology of the skull arch, it is classified in the category of circular - oblique deformations, and by comparing the characteristics of the artificially deformed skull and the pathological condition of craniosynostosis, it is classified as an artificially deformed skull. CONCLUSION: The skull found in the area of the Salonitan necropolis is a real example of the use of the practice of artificial deformation of the skull, and not the pathological condition of craniosynostosis

Artificially deformed skull or craniosynostosis? – the challenges of differential diagnostics in physical anthropology

CILJ: Istraživanje razlika između morfoloških značajki lubanje kod patoloških promjena (kraniosinostoza) i umjetnih deformacija lubanje na primjeru lubanje pronađenoj na nalazištu Solin – Smiljanjovac u grobu 110. METODE: Priprema i analiza koštanih ostataka pronađenih u grobu 110 temelji se u prvom koraku od pranja, sušenja i stavljanja koštanog materijala u anatomski položaj. Procjenjuje se stupanj očuvanosti koštanih ostataka, boja kostiju, spol i doživljena dob. Lubanja se klasificira s obzirom na vanjsku morfologiju svoda i uspoređuju se karakteristike umjetno deformirane lubanje s patološkim stanjem kraniosinostoze. REZULTATI: Stupanj očuvanosti koštanih ostataka ocijenjen je ocjenom 3, a kosti su svijetlo žute boje. Dob u trenutku smrti procjenjuje se na 25 – 35 godina, a na temelju morfologije lubanje, donje čeljusti i dugih kostiju zaključuje se kako se radi o koštanim ostacima ženske osobe. S obzirom na vanjsku morfologiju svoda lubanje svrstana je u kategoriju kružno – kose deformacije, a usporedbom karakteristika umjetno deformirane lubanje i patološkog stanja kraniosinostoze svrstana je pod umjetno deformiranu lubanju. ZAKLJUČAK: Lubanja pronađena na području salonitanske nekropole pravi je primjer korištenja prakse umjetne deformacije lubanje, a ne patološkog stanja kraniosinostoze.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences between the morphological characteristics of the skull in pathological changes (craniosynostosis) and artificial deformations of the skull on the example of the skull found at the Solin - Smiljanjovac site in grave 110. METHODS: The preparation and analysis of bone remains found in grave 110 is based on the first step of washing, drying, and placing the bone material in an anatomical position. The degree of preservation of bone remains, bone color, sex and age are assessed. The skull is classified according to the external morphology of the arch and the characteristics of the artificially deformed skull are compared with the pathological condition of craniosynostosis. RESULTS: The degree of preservation of bone remains was rated 3, and the bones are light yellow. Age at the time of death is estimated at 25-35 years, and based on the morphology of the skull, lower jaw, and long bones, it is concluded that these are the bone remains of a woman. Considering the external morphology of the skull arch, it is classified in the category of circular - oblique deformations, and by comparing the characteristics of the artificially deformed skull and the pathological condition of craniosynostosis, it is classified as an artificially deformed skull. CONCLUSION: The skull found in the area of the Salonitan necropolis is a real example of the use of the practice of artificial deformation of the skull, and not the pathological condition of craniosynostosis

Artificially deformed skull or craniosynostosis? – the challenges of differential diagnostics in physical anthropology

CILJ: Istraživanje razlika između morfoloških značajki lubanje kod patoloških promjena (kraniosinostoza) i umjetnih deformacija lubanje na primjeru lubanje pronađenoj na nalazištu Solin – Smiljanjovac u grobu 110. METODE: Priprema i analiza koštanih ostataka pronađenih u grobu 110 temelji se u prvom koraku od pranja, sušenja i stavljanja koštanog materijala u anatomski položaj. Procjenjuje se stupanj očuvanosti koštanih ostataka, boja kostiju, spol i doživljena dob. Lubanja se klasificira s obzirom na vanjsku morfologiju svoda i uspoređuju se karakteristike umjetno deformirane lubanje s patološkim stanjem kraniosinostoze. REZULTATI: Stupanj očuvanosti koštanih ostataka ocijenjen je ocjenom 3, a kosti su svijetlo žute boje. Dob u trenutku smrti procjenjuje se na 25 – 35 godina, a na temelju morfologije lubanje, donje čeljusti i dugih kostiju zaključuje se kako se radi o koštanim ostacima ženske osobe. S obzirom na vanjsku morfologiju svoda lubanje svrstana je u kategoriju kružno – kose deformacije, a usporedbom karakteristika umjetno deformirane lubanje i patološkog stanja kraniosinostoze svrstana je pod umjetno deformiranu lubanju. ZAKLJUČAK: Lubanja pronađena na području salonitanske nekropole pravi je primjer korištenja prakse umjetne deformacije lubanje, a ne patološkog stanja kraniosinostoze.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences between the morphological characteristics of the skull in pathological changes (craniosynostosis) and artificial deformations of the skull on the example of the skull found at the Solin - Smiljanjovac site in grave 110. METHODS: The preparation and analysis of bone remains found in grave 110 is based on the first step of washing, drying, and placing the bone material in an anatomical position. The degree of preservation of bone remains, bone color, sex and age are assessed. The skull is classified according to the external morphology of the arch and the characteristics of the artificially deformed skull are compared with the pathological condition of craniosynostosis. RESULTS: The degree of preservation of bone remains was rated 3, and the bones are light yellow. Age at the time of death is estimated at 25-35 years, and based on the morphology of the skull, lower jaw, and long bones, it is concluded that these are the bone remains of a woman. Considering the external morphology of the skull arch, it is classified in the category of circular - oblique deformations, and by comparing the characteristics of the artificially deformed skull and the pathological condition of craniosynostosis, it is classified as an artificially deformed skull. CONCLUSION: The skull found in the area of the Salonitan necropolis is a real example of the use of the practice of artificial deformation of the skull, and not the pathological condition of craniosynostosis