Chapter V: Munsee Crania: Measurements Relating to Size

AND SHAPE OF THE FACE[25]

LEGEND:
A = Total length of face (chin-nasion)[26]
B = Upper length (prosthion-nasion)
C = Breadth of face (diam. bizyg. max.)
D = Facial index total (x × 100)/z
E = Facial index upper (y × 100)/z
F = Cephalic index of the skull (for comparison)
G = Diameter frontal minimum
H = Diameter bigonial

S.D. = Slightly Defeormed
DEF. = Deformed

MALES
--------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+------
Number | (A) | (B) | (C) | (D) | (E) | (F) | (G) | (H)
| (x) | (y) | (z) | | | | |
--------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+------
| _cm._|_cm._ | _cm._| | | | _cm._ | _cm._
285,303 | 11.8 | 6.8 | 13.7 | 86.1 | 49.6 | 70.4 | 9.3 | 11
285,306 | 12.2 | 7.0 | 13.9 | 87.8 | 50.4 | 74.9 | 9.5 | 11.9
285,326 | 12.1 | 6.9 | 13.6 | 89.0 | 50.7 | S.D. | 8.7 | 10.6
285,313 | 12.0 | 7.2 | 14.0 | 85.7 | 51.4 | 76.6 | 9.0 | 9.5
285,308 | 12.6 | 7.4 | 14.2 | 88.7 | 52.2 | 73.7 | 10.1 | 11.1
285,305 | 12.1 | 7.2 | 13.6 | 89.0 | 52.9 | DEF. | 9.6 | 9.5
285,301 | 12.3 | 7.6 | 14.2 | 86.6 | 53.5 | DEF. | 9.5 | 9.3
+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+-------
| (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | (7) | | (7) | (7)
Averages| 12.15| 7.15 | 13.9 | 87.6 | 51.5 | — | 9.4 | 10.4
--------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+------
FEMALES
--------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+------
285,310 | 11.9 | 7.0 | 13.6 | 87.5 | 51.5 | DEF. | 9.8 | 10.3
285,327 | 11.2 | 6.6 | 12.4 | 90.3 | 53.2 | 74.4 | 8.4 | 8.7
285,302 | 11.9 | 7.0 | 12.8 | 93.0 | 54.7 | DEF. | 9.3 | 9.8
285,307 | (?) | 6.8 | 12.4 | — | 54.8 | 76.9 | 8.5 | —
285,304 | 11.8 | 7.3 | 12.9 | 91.5 | 56.5 | DEF. | 9.4 | 9.6
--------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+------
| (4) | (5) | (5) | (4) | (5) | | |
Averages| 11.7 | 6.9 | 12.8 | 90.5 | 54.1 | — | 9.1 | 9.6
--------+------+------+------+------+------+-------+-------+------

[25] Arranged on the basis of the Upper Facial Index.

[26] Where teeth were worn off, due allowance was made for the defect, the normal enameled portion of median incisors in apposition being taken as 19 mm. high, in the men.

The bizygomatic breadth, though not really small, is below the average in many other tribes of Indians, while the frontal breadth and that of the lower jaw are also somewhat below the medium. These results bear out the statement made under “General Observations” (p. 20) relative to the moderate proportions of the face of the Munsee. Comparative data given in the second part of this report indicate that in some of these respects, especially in the height of the face, the Munsee were somewhat exceptional among the Eastern tribes.

The facial indexes indicate mild chamœprosopy to mild leptoprosopy. Both the total and the upper indexes are perceptibly higher in the females, which on analysis of the measurements is seen to be due to the relatively greater narrowness of the face in the female, which, in turn, is doubtless connected with a relatively smaller development of the temporal muscles, the main muscles of mastication. The same condition was noticeable in the crania from Arkansas and Louisiana previously reported by the writer, and is probably quite general among Indians. Some of the foreheads and some of the lower jaws among the Munsee, as will be seen from the details, were relatively quite narrow.

MALE MUNSEE SKULL, NO. 285,303, U.S.N.M. (VIEW FROM ABOVE), SHOWING TYPICAL FEATURES]

ORBITS. NOSE

With respect to the orbits, the writer follows his invariable custom of making measurements on both sides and recording the mean, which, in turn, gives rise to a mean index. This procedure is necessary in view of the fact that in only a minority of cases are the two orbits of equal dimensions and that sometimes they differ considerably.[27]

Among the series of Lenape crania which the writer reported on in 1902,[28] there were several specimens in which the orbits were unusually low. At that time it seemed as if this feature might be almost characteristic of these Indians; but evidently such is not the case, for low orbits are quite rare among the Munsee. As will be seen from the following figures, in only one instance (male, no. 285,313) are the orbits decidedly low and broad, giving the microseme[29] index of _78.1_. Of the remaining cases four males and two females (43 per cent) are mesoseme, while two of the males and five of the females (50 per cent) are megaseme. The extensive fluctuation of the orbital index in both sexes of the Munsee tribe is very striking, but much the same variation was observed in the Arkansas and Louisiana crania previously mentioned, and is present among the Eastern tribes in general.

[27] It seems advisable to mention at this point the exact method used by the writer in the measurement of the orbits, for there appears to be not a little discrepancy in this respect among different workers. The measurements are those of Broca: The breadth is from dacryon (the point of intersection of the lachrymo-frontal suture and the sharp free orbital border of the lachrymal canal) to the most distal part of the lateral boundary of the orbit, below the malo-frontal suture; while the height is the maximum height, from about the center of the lower border of the orbit. Both dimensions can be taken with fair accuracy by either a graduated rod or by the two sharp points of the _compas glissière_. The main point is that the measurements should not comprise any part of the borders of the orbits, particularly the outer one, which differs considerably in thickness and breadth, and part of which seems not infrequently to be included by those who take these measurements.

[28] _Crania of Trenton_, etc., op. cit.

[29] Broca’s classification.