Dissertation Research: Development of Hominid Anatomy

该项目将测试当前的程序使用现代 化石人类遗骸的性别鉴定标准，这已被证明是 比以前想象的更复杂。 学生将测试 使用现代骨性骨盆测量的局限性 在最早的原始人类中， 向两足动物过渡的时期。 学生将测试 坐骨大切迹可能不是 与骨盆的性别分化有关， 两足动物骨盆的变化。 这项研究将帮助古人类学家确定 现代人类和猩猩的两性异形特征 原始人类化石中的强性别歧视者。 它还将测试 关于原始人类女性骨骼受到影响的假设， 婴儿头骨尺寸的增加。 目前对化石人类的性别鉴定存在争议 以及特定物种中两性异形的数量。 这 研究项目将有助于完善标准， 化石被鉴定为性别。

This project will test current procedures of using modern sexing criteria on fossil hominid remains, which has proven to be more complex than previously believed. The student will test the limitations of using modern bony pelvis measurements for determining sexual dimorphism in the earliest hominids at the period of the transition to bipedalism. The student will test the hypothesis that the greater sciatic notch was probably not related to sexual differentiation of the pelvis but rather to changes in the pelvis for bipedality. This research will help paleoanthropologists determine which sexually dimorphic traits in modern humans and pongids will be strong sex discriminators in fossil hominids. It will also test assumptions about the effects on the hominid female skeleton due to increases in infant skull size. There is current debate over the sexing of fossil hominids and the amount of sexual dimorphism in specific species. This research project will help in refining the criteria by which fossils are identified as to sex.