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标题：Testing the accuracy of adult skeletal age estimation methods: original methods versus revised and newer methods.
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作者：Catherine E Merritt
期刊名称：vis-à-vis: Explorations in Anthropology
印刷版ISSN：1203-4274
出版年度：2014
卷号：12
期号：1
语种：English
出版社：Anthropology Graduate Student Union, University of Toronto
摘要：Accurately estimating adult skeletal age at death is a critical component of forensic case studies, archaeological fieldwork, and osteological research. This study applies 11 age estimation methods to a sample of 20 male skeletons of European descent (mean age 54.5 years, range 29-85) from the J.C.B. Grant Collection at the University of Toronto to assess the relative correctness (appropriate assignment to defined phases), reliability (inaccuracy and bias of estimations), and precision (reproducibility) of each method. Five original methods (Kunos et al., first rib; İşcan et al., fourth rib; Lovejoy et al., auricular surface; Todd, pubic symphysis; and Suchey-Brooks, pubic symphysis) were compared with six revised or newly developed methods (DiGangi et al., first rib; Hartnett, fourth rib; Passalacqua, sacrum; Buckberry and Chamberlain, auricular surface; Rougé-Maillart et al., acetabulum and auricular surface; and Hartnett, pubic symphysis). Results indicate that the newer methods correctly score individuals more consistently than the older methods; however, this may be attributed to the larger age ranges of their phases. The newer methods are also more reliable than the older methods: Buckberry and Chamberlain (6.54 inaccuracy, 2.24 bias) and Passalacqua (8.07 inaccuracy, -1.28 bias) rated highest. Newer methods had slightly lower rates of intra-observer error; newer and original methods had similar fair-to-moderate rates of inter-observer error. While newer methods may represent improvements to the field, they follow the trend of over-aging younger individuals and under-aging older individuals.
关键词：age estimation;acetabulum;auricular surface;pubic symphysis;ribs;sacrum