Craniometrics, clines and climate : a study of environmental adaptation in holocene aborigines from the east coast of Australia

Abstract

Statistically significant correlations between anthropometric land environmental variables havel I been demonstrated in samples of Holocene Aboriginal crania and mandibles from the east coast of Australia. In testing for variation that may be attributed to climatic adaptation, the model of decreased nasal breadth in colder climates is not supported, but increased cranial breadth is included in principal component scores which correlate with increased latitude and decreased temperatures. Thus the model of increased brachycephalization as a response to decreased temperature is not refuted by these results, but the support demonstrated is secondary to more impressive results for the face and mandibles, for which thermoregulatory explanations have not hitherto been suggested.