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Craniometry of Miyako Islanders, the Ryukyus

1974; Anthropological Society of Nippon; Volume: 82; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1537/ase1911.82.150

1884-765X

Jirō Ikeda,

Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies

The author investigated 135 modern skulls without mandible, consisted 85 male, 48 female and 2 sex-unknown, from Nagabaka in Shimajiri district, Hirara city, Miyako Is., the Ryukyus. Nagabaka would be used as the cemetery during the time between one and two centuries ago, judging from the type of ceramics found there and informations from the villagers, etc.Table 1 shows cranial measurements and indices of Miyako skulls. Comparing craniometrical data of Miyako skulls with those of the various populations (Fig. 1 and Table 2), following results were obtained.1. Cranial measurements of Miyako Islanders fall within the range of variation for other Ryukyu Islanders and Honshu-Kyushu Japanese. Among Ryukyu Islanders, exept Okinawa-Honto Islander, there are no significant variation. Ryukyu Islanders, however, are different from Honshu-kyushu Japanese in having longer cranial length, lower cranial height, longer facial length, lower upper facial height and bro.der nasal breadth.2. Ryukyu Islanders, including Miyako, are significantly different from northern populations (Koreans or Chinese in Northern part of China) in most of cranial measurements.3. They approach to southern populations (Formosa Abroigines or Indonesians) in the facial measurements, and to Sakhalin Ainu in the some measurements of calvaria.