Chapter VIII: Munsee Crania: Palate;37 Lower Jaw;38 Foramen Magnum

LEGEND:
A = Index (B × 100)/L
B = Height at symphysis[39]
C = Thickness at 2d left molar[40]
D = Diameter bigonial
E = Minimum breadth of ramus
F = Angle (mean)[41]
G = Mean diameter (L + B)/2
MALES
-------------------------------+-------------------------------------
Palate | Lower jaw
|
--------+------+-------+-------+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
| | | | | | | | |
Number |Length|Breadth| (A) |Number | (B) | (C) | (D) | (E) | (F)
--------+------+-------+-------+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
| _cm._| _cm._| | |_cm._|_cm._|_cm._|_cm._| °
285,316 | 5.8 | 6.7 | 115.5 |285,316| 3.4 | 1.5 | — | 3.7| —
285,301 | 5.8 | 6.9 | 119 |285,303| 3.6 |([42])| 11 | 3 | 120
285,306 | 5.7 | 6.8 | 119.3 |285,305| 3.6 | 1.3 | 9.5| 3.5| 117
285,315 | 6 | 7.2 | 120 |285,313| 3.6 | 1.4 | 9.5| 3.6| 116
285,326 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 120 |285,301| 3.7 | 1.3 | 9.3| 3.6| 116
285,305 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 120.8 |285,306| 3.8 | 1.3 | 9.5| 3.5| 117
285,308 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 122.8 |285,326| 3.8 | 1.3 | 10.6| 3.2| 116
285,303 | 5.1 | 6.6 | 129.4 |285,308| 3.9 | 1.6 | 11.1| 3.4| 121
— | — | — | — |285,315| 3.9 | 1.8 | 10.9| 4.0| 121
+------+-------+-------+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
|(8) | (8) | (8) | | (9) | (8) | (8) | (9)| (8)
Averages| 5.6 | 6.8 | 120.7 | — | 3.7 | 1.5 | 10.5| 3.5| 118
--------+------+-------+-------+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
FEMALES
--------+------+-------+-------+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
285,327 | 5.1 | 5.9 | 115.7 |285,324| 3.2 | 1.5 | 9.6 | 3.3 | 128
285,307 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 117.9 |285,307| 3.2 | 1.2 | 8.7 | — | 127
285,304 | 5.2 | 6.2 | 119.2 |285,310| 3.4 | 1.6 |10.3 | 3.5 | 131
285,302 | 5.2 | 6.4 | 123.1 |285,321| 3.5 | 1.65| — | 3.5 | —
285,310 | 5.2 | 6.6 | 126.9 |285,347| 3.5 | 1.6 | — | 3.4 | 128
— | — | — | — |285,302| 3.7 | 1.5 | 9.8 | 2.8 | 140
— | — | — | — |285,320| — | — | — | 3.1 | 123
— | — | — | — |285,309| — | — | — | — | 130
+------+-------+-------+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----
|(5) | (5) | (5) | | (6) | (6) | (4) | (6) | (7)
Averages| 5.25| 6.35| 120.5 | — | 3.4 | 1.5 | 9.6 | 3.2 | 130
--------+------+-------+-------+-------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----

MALES
+-------------
| Foramen
| magnum
+-------+-----
| |
|Number | (G)
+-------+-----
| |_cm._
|285,301| 3.3
|285,305| 3.3
|285,303| 3.5
|285,306| 3.5
|285,308| 3.6
|285,326| 3.6
|285,313| 3.8
| — | —
| — | —
+-------+-----
| | (7)
| — | 3.5
+-------+-----

FEMALES
+-------+-----
|285,309| 3.1
|285,327| 3.1
|285,304| 3.2
|285,310| 3.2
|285,302| 3.3
|285,320| 3.3
|285,347| 3.3
|285,307| 3.4
+-------+-----
| | (8)
| — | 3.2
+-------+-----

[37] Arranged on the basis of the Palatal Index.

[38] Arranged on the basis of the height at symphysis.

[39] The vertical height in median line.

[40] Measured with the _compas glissière_ in such manner that the center of the second molar or of its aveolus corresponds to the middle of the rod of the compass between the two branches which are applied to the ramus.

[41] Measured with Broca’s goniometer.

[42] Moderate.

FORAMEN MAGNUM

In respect to the foramen magnum, there is so much irregularity and so little special significance in the ratio between the two main diameters, length and breadth, that the writer prefers to use the mean measurement,

(l + br)
————————,
2

which stands in some relation to stature and probably to muscular development, and which may have more than passing interest in the study of racial and other groups. The average in the Munsee is, as usual, perceptibly higher in the males than in the females. It is almost identical in both sexes with that of the Indian skeletal remains from the Louisiana mounds (Munsee, 7 males, 3.5; 8 females, 3.2: Louisiana, 10 males, 3.45; 14 females, 3.18 cm.), which were nearly alike in stature, but it is slightly superior to that of the Indians from Arkansas, who were also of practically the same height (Arkansas, 22 males, 3.3; 16 females, 3.14 cm.).

LOWER JAW

The measurements of the lower jaw show only moderate dimensions throughout. The angle (mean of the two sides, which usually differ somewhat in this respect) averages decidedly higher in the females (130°), which is not always the case in American crania. Thus among the Arkansas and Louisiana mound crania it averaged 118.5° in the males, or practically the same as in the Munsee; while it was only 122° in the females, or eight points lower than in the Munsee of the same sex.

DETAILED OBSERVATIONS ON THE CRANIA

In visual examination of a series of crania or other bones of more than passing importance, general impressions are not sufficiently accurate or reliable; consequently, the writer habitually makes detailed notes of the principal features of each specimen in accordance with a definite though simple scheme. Such notes can be tabulated and analyzed almost as readily as measurements.

In choosing the points for observation, the only rule that can be formulated is to include everything of consequence, and to cover the whole specimen, which is not so easily accomplished as at first might seem. Some of the points touched upon in such a procedure will, of course, be of much less weight than others, but they serve to complete the picture and will doubtless be of some interest and value in future comparisons; while purely individual characteristics that might be included by some authors may be passed entirely.

The results of the detailed examination of the Munsee crania are as follow:

THE VAULT: FOREHEAD

The conditions found in respect to the frontal region will be clearly seen from the accompanying table. As general among Indians, this region in the Munsee skulls shows high development only in exceptional cases. In the males there is frequently more or less of a slope; in the females, where slope is rare, low foreheads prevail.

MALE SKULL, NO. 99-6669, A.M.N.H., FROM MANHATTAN ISLAND (VIEW FROM ABOVE), SHOWING LONG OVOID OUTLINE]