A COMPARISON OF NONMETRIC CRANIAL AND MORPHOSCOPIC TRAIT FREQUENCIES IN MEXICAN AND VARIOUS ASIAN POPULATIONS

Abstract

Forensic anthropologists employ many techniques, including the use of cranial nonmetric and morphoscopic traits, to estimate ancestry of unknown skeletal individuals. With the high rates of border crossers along the US-Mexico border, their expertise is important for identifying unknown individuals. As of late, Asians represent the highest portion of immigrants to the United States. It is important to understand the morphoscopic trait frequencies between Southwest Hispanic and Asian populations to be able to better identify undocumented border crossers. In this study, cranial nonmetric and morphoscopic traits were scored and analyzed through frequency distributions, chi square tests of independence, and Smith’s mean measure of divergence. The study found dissimilarities and significant trait frequencies among Chinese, Mongolian, Japanese, and Mexican populations. This research will provide valuable information for ancestry estimation for unidentified individuals in forensic contexts.