Biomechanical Analysis of Humeral and Femoral Structural Variation in the Great Plains

Abstract

Variation in humeral and femoral structural morphology of Great Plains populations is examined for differences due to subsistence practice and geographical location. The sample consists of Archaic hunter-gatherers, early and middle Woodland hunter-gatherers, late Woodland incipient horticulturalists, Plains Village horticulturalists, and equestrian nomads from the northern, central, and southern Plains. In general, skeletal morphology on the Plains is relatively homogeneous throughout time and space. There are few significant univariate differences in same sex comparisons or in sexual dimorphism due to either subsistence practice or geographical region. However, males tend to cluster partially by subsistence practice, while females cluster by geographical region. Subsistence differences are generally associated with long bone size and activity related robusticily. Geographical variation between groups is most likely associated with climatically-induced differences in body build and not terrain relief.