The concept of robusticity in (palaeo-) anthropology and its broad range of application: a short review
The concept of robusticity is widely used in palaeoanthropological and bioarchaeological studies. Distinct skeletal structures are described as robust. Many specialists and non-specialists alike use the term robusticity colloquially to emphasize a general impression, sometimes without considering al...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Société d'Anthropologie de Paris
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d’Anthropologie de Paris |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/bmsap/10319 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | The concept of robusticity is widely used in palaeoanthropological and bioarchaeological studies. Distinct skeletal structures are described as robust. Many specialists and non-specialists alike use the term robusticity colloquially to emphasize a general impression, sometimes without considering all the specific definitions it may encompass. Structural robusticity generally refers to a strong or heavy structure, and to the ability of bone structure to resist loads. A wide variety of quantitative and qualitative criteria are used to determine structural robusticity. For example, some authors evaluate bone hypertrophy/reinforcement from a biomechanical approach, and scaled variables based on body size or baseline load; other authors refer to crests, tori, ridges and rugosities. The disparately used term robusticity also includes criteria representing nothing more than bone size (i.e., non-scaled variables) and shape. Consequently, the term robusticity (or robust, robustness) must be used with care, specifically in syntheses and by non-specialists. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1777-5469 |