A morphometries analysis method for craniofacial differences of ancient humans

Abstract

In the paper, we present the way of using the statistical shape analysis methods, by using the ancient human fossil craniofacial form data. In Indonesia, Homo floresiensis was discovered in the isolated island named Flores. The controversial issue rose whether Homo floresiensis was a microcephalic modern human or a new species. Then we analyze the deformations of Homo floresiensis from Homo sapiens and Homo erectus. As the deformation analysis method, we used the new morphometric statistical analysis which is called the statistical shape analysis or the geometry driven statistics analysis. The resultant partial warp data show distinctive features among them and we can verify that the method is accurate for analyzing the craniofacial differences of ancient humans.