Sex estimation in bioarchaeological research is paramount for comparative analyses of skeletal remains and developing estimates of other demographic variables. Frequently, sex is estimated utilizing the morphology of pelvic and cranial bones in archaeological skeletal samples. Regrettably, these bones are often damaged, destroyed, or lost and cannot be employed for the estimation of sex. Fortunately, a variety of metric and visual sex estimation methods have been developed on modern skeletal samples with known demography. Disappointingly, due to the population specific nature of many of these metric methods, they cannot be accurately applied directly to alternate skeletal samples. However, these methods can be redeveloped and retested for archaeological skeletal samples if the proper protocol is utilized. This research utilizes the protocol for developing methods of sex estimation on samples with unknown sex developed by Murail et al. (1999). Utilizing select hand and foot bones from four prehistoric Native American skeletal samples from Alabama and Illinois, multiple discriminant functions were developed and tested on both Archaic and Mississippian Period skeletal samples. Furthermore, the four individual site samples were combined into two geographical and two temporal samples, as well as an all pooled sample in order to test the broader applicability of these methods. The results indicate that sex estimation methods can be developed on samples where sex is not known. Additionally, the discriminant functions developed produce high levels of classification for the sites, individually, as well as for the geographic, temporal, and all pooled samples. The latter suggests these functions have broader applicability for these regions and temporal periods. Moreover, the concordance rates for these functions are similar to the accuracy rates when these bones were applied to samples with known sex.

Orientador: Guilherme Monteiro Tosoni / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a confiabilidade de dois métodos radiográficos de determinação da maturação esquelética das vértebras cervicais e a concordância com o método baseado nas imagens radiográficas de mão e punho. Foram analisadas imagens radiográficas digitais cefalométricas laterais e de mão e punho de 120 indivíduos, com idades variando entre 6 e 18 anos. Para o estudo da repetibilidade e reprodutibilidade, as imagens radiográficas foram interpretadas por 4 examinadores (2 radiologistas e 2 ortodontistas) em dois momentos distintos de acordo com os métodos de Hassel e Farman (VC1) e Baccetti et al. (VC2). Para o estudo de concordância, o método de Fishman também foi realizado pelos quatro examinadores. Para as análises estatísticas foi utilizada estatística Kappa (ҡ), com ponderação linear, seguida do cálculo dos intervalos de confiança (IC95%) e Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (CCI). Os resultados da análise intra-examinador indicaram calibração "quase perfeita" para os quatro examinadores (ҡ>0,81) em todos os métodos de análise. Os limites inferiores dos IC estiveram todos acima de 0,71 para a análise inter-examinador. Os valores de CCI para reprodutibilidade inter-examinador foram considerados "excelentes" para os limites inferiores de todos os IC (≥0,91). Embora a proporção total de diagnósticos concordantes (acurácia) obtida nos métodos VC1 e VC2 tenha sido, respectivamente, 42% e 50% para os ortodontistas e 42% e 40% para os radiologistas, o cruza... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of two radiographic methods to determine the skeletal maturation of the cervical vertebrae and the concordance with the method based on hand and wrist radiographic images. Were analyzed lateral cephalogram, hand and wrist digital radiographic images of 120 individuals, ranging from 6 to 18 years. For the study of repeatability and reproducibility, the images were interpreted by 4 examiners (2 radiologists and 2 orthodontists) on distinct moments, according to the methods of Hassel e Farman (CV1) and Bacetti et al. (CV2). For the concordance study, the Fishman method was also applied. Statistical analysis was performed using Kappa (ҡ), with linear weighting, followed by the calculation of confidence intermission (CI95%) and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). The intra-examiner analysis results indicated 'almost perfect' calibration for the examiners (ҡ>0,81) in all methods. The lower limits of Cis were all above 0.71 for the interexaminer analysis. ICC values for inter-examiner reproducibility were considered 'excellent' for the lower limits of all Cis (≥0.91). Although the total proportion of concordant diagnosis (accuracy) obtained on CV1 and CV2 methods was 42% and 50% for orthodontists and 42% and 40% for radiologists, the crossing of all Cis95% showed no significant difference. Both methods of determination of skeletal maturation of the cervical vertebrae are reliable, since they presented excellent repeatability and reproducibility. These methods showed substantial concordance with the method using radiographic images of the hand and wrist. Moreover, orthodontists and radiologists interpreted them with the same precision / Mestre