Size variation in small-bodied humans from palau, micronesia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent discoveries on Palau are claimed to represent the remains of small-bodied humans that may display evidence insular size reduction. This claim has yet to be statistically validated

Methodology/principal findings

Published postcranial specimens (n = 16) from Palau were assessed relative to recent small-bodied comparative samples. Resampling statistical approaches were employed to test specific hypotheses relating to body size in the Palau sample. Results confirm that the Palau postcranial sample is indisputably small-bodied.

Conclusions/significance

A single, homogenous body size morph is represented in early prehistoric postcrania from Palau. Small body size in early Palauans is an ancestral characteristic and was likely not a consequence of in-situ s

SUBMITTER: Gallagher A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2596964 | biostudies-literature | 2008

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature