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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Tony Chevalier
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!
_version_ 1832579915552129024
author Tony Chevalier
author_facet Tony Chevalier
author_sort Tony Chevalier
collection DOAJ
description 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.
format Article
id doaj-art-9d6d37faaa3c4718a2a44afd69f7967e
institution Kabale University
issn 1777-5469
language English
publishDate 2022-10-01
publisher Société d'Anthropologie de Paris
record_format Article
series Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d’Anthropologie de Paris
spelling doaj-art-9d6d37faaa3c4718a2a44afd69f7967e2025-01-30T11:27:35ZengSociété d'Anthropologie de ParisBulletins et Mémoires de la Société d’Anthropologie de Paris1777-54692022-10-013410.4000/bmsap.10319The concept of robusticity in (palaeo-) anthropology and its broad range of application: a short reviewTony ChevalierThe 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.https://journals.openedition.org/bmsap/10319Human evolutionrobust/robustnessbone strengthskull superstructureentheses
spellingShingle Tony Chevalier
The concept of robusticity in (palaeo-) anthropology and its broad range of application: a short review
Bulletins et Mémoires de la Société d’Anthropologie de Paris
Human evolution
robust/robustness
bone strength
skull superstructure
entheses
title The concept of robusticity in (palaeo-) anthropology and its broad range of application: a short review
title_full The concept of robusticity in (palaeo-) anthropology and its broad range of application: a short review
title_fullStr The concept of robusticity in (palaeo-) anthropology and its broad range of application: a short review
title_full_unstemmed The concept of robusticity in (palaeo-) anthropology and its broad range of application: a short review
title_short The concept of robusticity in (palaeo-) anthropology and its broad range of application: a short review
title_sort concept of robusticity in palaeo anthropology and its broad range of application a short review
topic Human evolution
robust/robustness
bone strength
skull superstructure
entheses
url https://journals.openedition.org/bmsap/10319
work_keys_str_mv AT tonychevalier theconceptofrobusticityinpalaeoanthropologyanditsbroadrangeofapplicationashortreview
AT tonychevalier conceptofrobusticityinpalaeoanthropologyanditsbroadrangeofapplicationashortreview