Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch University
The Kirsten Skeletal Collection is curated in the Division of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. It comprises the largest documented cadaver-derived South African coloured skeletal collection in the world. Our aim in this paper is t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Science of South Africa
2018-01-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/4307 |
| _version_ | 1818324422791004160 |
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| author | Amanda Alblas Linda M. Greyling Elsje-Marie Geldenhuys |
| author_facet | Amanda Alblas Linda M. Greyling Elsje-Marie Geldenhuys |
| author_sort | Amanda Alblas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Kirsten Skeletal Collection is curated in the Division of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. It comprises the largest documented cadaver-derived South African coloured skeletal collection in the world. Our aim in this paper is to present an inventory and characterise the identified skeletons in the Kirsten Skeletal Collection as well as provide a descriptive indication of what researchers can expect to encounter at the anthropology unit at Stellenbosch University. The skeletal material was derived mainly from the cadaver donation programme of the Division of Anatomy and Histology over a 58-year period (1957–2015). All pertinent information for each individual skeleton is entered into a database and a full skeletal inventory is established. The skeletal database registry was analysed to demonstrate the distribution of age, sex and population affinity of individuals in the collection. Currently, this collection consists of 1161 skeletons with known records. Despite differences in the age and sex composition, the skeletal profile in general reflects mainly the profile of the Western Cape population. Most individuals were born between 1920 and 1950, placing the Kirsten Skeletal Collection in the early to mid-20th century. The age at death for the greatest proportion (41.8%) of individuals was between 40 and 60 years. Current biological profile techniques in age, ancestry and sex estimation can be improved and, among others, new regional and ancestral specific standards for the biologically unique and diverse South African coloured population can be developed.
Significance:
• We present the largest documented skeletal collection of the South African coloured population in the world.
• This work contributes to the skeletal reference database for use by physical anthropologists and others. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:28:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a63678848fc45d39d2604e7245b33cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-7489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T11:28:20Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Science of South Africa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a63678848fc45d39d2604e7245b33cd2022-12-21T23:48:03ZengAcademy of Science of South AfricaSouth African Journal of Science1996-74892018-01-011141/26610.17159/sajs.2018/201701984307Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch UniversityAmanda Alblas0Linda M. Greyling1Elsje-Marie Geldenhuys2Division of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDivision of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaDivision of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaThe Kirsten Skeletal Collection is curated in the Division of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa. It comprises the largest documented cadaver-derived South African coloured skeletal collection in the world. Our aim in this paper is to present an inventory and characterise the identified skeletons in the Kirsten Skeletal Collection as well as provide a descriptive indication of what researchers can expect to encounter at the anthropology unit at Stellenbosch University. The skeletal material was derived mainly from the cadaver donation programme of the Division of Anatomy and Histology over a 58-year period (1957–2015). All pertinent information for each individual skeleton is entered into a database and a full skeletal inventory is established. The skeletal database registry was analysed to demonstrate the distribution of age, sex and population affinity of individuals in the collection. Currently, this collection consists of 1161 skeletons with known records. Despite differences in the age and sex composition, the skeletal profile in general reflects mainly the profile of the Western Cape population. Most individuals were born between 1920 and 1950, placing the Kirsten Skeletal Collection in the early to mid-20th century. The age at death for the greatest proportion (41.8%) of individuals was between 40 and 60 years. Current biological profile techniques in age, ancestry and sex estimation can be improved and, among others, new regional and ancestral specific standards for the biologically unique and diverse South African coloured population can be developed. Significance: • We present the largest documented skeletal collection of the South African coloured population in the world. • This work contributes to the skeletal reference database for use by physical anthropologists and others.https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/4307physical anthropologySouth African coloured populationskeletal reference collectionregional and ancestral specific skeletal standards |
| spellingShingle | Amanda Alblas Linda M. Greyling Elsje-Marie Geldenhuys Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch University South African Journal of Science physical anthropology South African coloured population skeletal reference collection regional and ancestral specific skeletal standards |
| title | Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch University |
| title_full | Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch University |
| title_fullStr | Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch University |
| title_full_unstemmed | Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch University |
| title_short | Composition of the Kirsten Skeletal Collection at Stellenbosch University |
| title_sort | composition of the kirsten skeletal collection at stellenbosch university |
| topic | physical anthropology South African coloured population skeletal reference collection regional and ancestral specific skeletal standards |
| url | https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/4307 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amandaalblas compositionofthekirstenskeletalcollectionatstellenboschuniversity AT lindamgreyling compositionofthekirstenskeletalcollectionatstellenboschuniversity AT elsjemariegeldenhuys compositionofthekirstenskeletalcollectionatstellenboschuniversity |