Stature estimation in extinct Aónikenk and the myth of Patagonian gigantism

Abstract

The Aónikenk were a hunter-gatherer group that inhabited the southern extreme of Patagonia at European Contact and became extinct at the end of the 19th century. The myth of Patagonian gigantism developed around these aborigines from early Spanish explorer accounts. In this study, the postcranial remains belonging to the Aónikenk (Patagonia) and the Selk'nam (Tierra del Fuego) preserved at the Instituto de la Patagonia (UMAG, Chile) have been measured, using standard metrics. Different stature estimations for these groups have been generated, by using the different regression formulae available. Aónikenk male stature appears to be between 174 and 178 cm on average, whereas the Selk'nam are considerably shorter. In addition, stature estimations from Spanish populations dating to the contact period have been compiled for comparison. While it can be concluded that the Aónikenk probably presented the highest stature values of all Meso- and South American populations, it is suggested that the perception of their gigantism could be partially attributed to the real difference in stature (probably more than 10 cm) between these aborigines and contemporaneous Europeans. Am J Phys Anthropol 105:545–551, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.