Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains in 1755 Lisbon Earthquake Commingled and Disarticulated Population: Estimating Stature from Long Bones Post Femur

Abstract

Introduction: Stature estimation is a parameter of great value for the reconstruction of the history and evolution of populations. Trotter and Gleser developed a study in which the stature estimation was obtained through the measurement of the anatomical length of long bones, being possible to identify populations by determining these measurements.

Aims: The main purpose of this study is focused on the paleodemographic characterization of the catastrophic population from the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, by obtaining stature estimation through the measurement of upper and lower long bones.

Material and Methods: The sample covers a total of 1039 bones, whole and fragments, including 177 humerus, 290 radius, 286 ulnas, 77 tibias and 209 fibulas. For the total of 324 whole bones, there was an exclusion of 123 bones since it wasn’t possible to measure their maximum length. The “White” Terry Collection equations by Trotter and Gleser (1952) were the most indicated for this study.

Results: It was determined a minimum number of 151 individuals for the sample of this study, discriminated in 68 right whole radius and 83 right radius bodies. The average values of stature estimation for this population were 160,50 cm for females and 162,54 cm for males.

Conclusions:  The sample of this study presents a pronounced similarity, concerning the stature estimation, with the 19th century Portuguese sample from Mendes-Corrêa study. Trotter and Gleser formulas and its application have shown to be an accurate method for stature estimation.