An analysis of the human femur

Abstract

Abstract Nineteen linear and three angular dimensions were measured for 590 left femurs derived from Bronze‐Age to present‐day population samples. Univariate analysis showed varying patterns of contrast between the populations, depending upon which femoral dimension was compared. Similarly, multivariate analysis also provided varying patterns of contrast between the populations, depending upon which group of dimensions was included in the analysis. Following standardization of the femoral linear dimensions against the maximum femoral length, in contrast, repeat multivariate analyses showed a progression from the Bronze‐Age to the present‐day samples, although there was only limited discrimination between the samples.