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Article
Sex Differences in Humeral Bilateral Asymmetry in Two Hunter-Gatherer Populations: California Amerinds and British Columbian Amerinds
American Journal of Physical Anthropology (2009)
  • Elizabeth Weiss
Abstract
This study uses two prehistoric Amerindian populations of hunter-gatherer subsistence patterns to determine whether levels of sexual dimorphism in humeral bilateral cross-sectional asymmetry are related to sex-specific differences in activities among these populations. Results confirmed that males of the California Amerind population who engaged in the more unimanual activities of spear hunting and warfare were more asymmetrical than were their female counterparts who engaged in the more bimanual activities of grinding acorns. California Amerind males were also more asymmetrical than British Columbian Amerind males who rowed (using both arms) extensively. Sex differences within British Columbian Amerinds were not statistically significant, nor were female differences between populations. In general, levels of humeral asymmetry appear to be more dependent on sex and population-specific behaviors rather than broad subsistence patterns.
Keywords
  • Sex Differences,
  • Humeral,
  • Bilateral Asymmetry,
  • Hunter-Gatherer,
  • Population,
  • California,
  • Amerinds,
  • British Columbian Amerinds
Disciplines
Publication Date
2009
Publisher Statement
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Citation Information
Elizabeth Weiss. "Sex Differences in Humeral Bilateral Asymmetry in Two Hunter-Gatherer Populations: California Amerinds and British Columbian Amerinds" American Journal of Physical Anthropology Vol. 140 (2009)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/elizabeth_weiss/19/