The Hamann-Todd Human Osteological Collection: A Representative Sample?

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The Hamann-Todd Human Osteological Collection (HTHOC) is a documented skeletal collection that has been foundational to the fields of biological anthropology and forensic anthropology. In constructing these standards, the HTHOC has been used as though it encapsulates the range of biological variation of humanity in North America. The powerful role that structural and cultural violence played in the creation of the HTHOC suggests that these individuals are not representative of broader Cleveland, let alone North America. Our goal is to assess several of the biases in the HTHOC. We compare the causes of death and the month of death of those in the HTHOC to the broader Cleveland population to assess whether the HTHOC is truly a representative sample.

Materials and method

SUBMITTER: Wissler A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12745067 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature