Endogamy and anthropological differentiation on the Canary Islands (anthropological studies on the Canary Islands III)

Abstract

The connection between endogamy and anthropological differentiation was investigated using a sample of 6814 primary school children from 129 settlements on the seven Canary Islands. The rates of endogamy among the local inhabitants are generally high, although they vary considerably. The age-variable characteristics were standardised. o 1. The subjects of endogamous marriages (abbreviated “endogames”) deviate significantly from the remaining population in respect of absolute measurements. The involvement of a social and an ecological factor (mountainous and coastal population) was examined. Neither could offer an explanation for the observed disparities. It can be assumed, therefore, that the smaller size of the endogames reflects a genetic inbreeding effect. 2. No significant correlations with the rates of endogamy were calculated for the cephalic index which could support the hypothesis that a causal relationship exists between debrachycephalisation and the breaking of isolates. In the geographical distribution the cephalic index actually tends to decrease with increasing rates of endogamy. It is probable, however, that this is not a case of direct genetic effect, but rather that high rates of endogamy and low cephalic index depend on a common ecological factor which has been called socio-economic retardation.