Anthropology

We report a new fossil specimen of a pelican from the Tatrot Formation of the Siwalik Hills, India. It likely represents Pelecanus sivalensis Davies, 1880, the smaller of the two previously published species from the Siwalik Group stratigraphic sequence. This complete tarsometatarsus is the first fossil bone of a pelican collected in India for over 100 years. It is from the latest Pliocene (,2.6 Ma), and is the youngest pelican fossil from the region. The new specimen exhibits a derived distoplantar 'slant' to the plantar margin of the medial crest of the hypotarsus, and a combination of features related to the morphology of the hypotarsus, the distal foramen, trochleae, and overall size that allow further differentiation from known tarsometatarsi of fossil and extant pelicans, including the three species of extant pelicans that occur in India (Pelecanus crispus, P. onocrotalus, and P. philippensis). It is of appropriate size for Pelecanus sivalensis, which to date has been known only by fragments of other skeletal elements of the wing, leg, and shoulder girdle. Thus, the observation that this tarsometatarsus is morphologically distinct from those of known pelicans provides further support for the distinctiveness of at least one extinct species of pelican from the Siwalik Group sediments. While the morphology of the tarsometatarsus allows for separation from other taxa known from tarsometatarsi, we found no clear shared derived states to place this taxon with any confidence in a phylogenetic context relative to any other pelican species, or even determine if it is part of the crown group of Pelecanidae. However, published molecular data are consistent with an origin of the crown clade prior to the Pleistocene, suggesting (along with one morphological character) the possibility that this species belongs to the Old World clade of pelican species.

The archaeology of the Chotanagpur region, as explained earlier, has been steadily giving new surprises over the years. It is time now to rethink the whole issue thoroughly in the context of influences from the entire region as well as indigenous growth and development of traditions and ways of life. First, an attempt has been made to cobble together the very patchy Neolithic record of the region and then the conclusions have been transferred to the Chalcolithic period in the region as well. This work will attempt to take into account the major sites of this period in the region. This data is analyzed through the lens of certain theoretical perspectives that may explain them. This would lead to a better understanding of the continuity of the prehistoric sites found in the Chotanagpur region. Finally, it might prove to be a means of further understanding the way prehistoric cultures have been manifesting themselves during the early historic period.

The examination of skeletal remains is a challenge to the medical examiner's/coroner's office and the forensic anthropologist conducting the investigation. One of the objectives of the medico-legal investigation is to estimate stature or height from various skeletal remains and body parts brought for examination. Various skeletal remains and body parts bear a positive and linear correlation with stature and have been successfully used for stature estimation. This concept is utilized in estimation of stature in forensic anthropology casework in mass disasters and other forensic examinations. Scientists have long been involved in standardizing the anthropological data with respect to various populations of the world. This review deals with some essential methodological issues that need to be addressed in research related to estimation of stature in forensic examinations. These issues have direct relevance in the identification of commingled or unknown remains and therefore i...

Facial reconstruction: The art of the science Facial reconstruction has now become a very important part of research considerations in Forensic Sciences. Part of the reason for this has been the fact that though the security and disaster implications of such researches have been paramount, researches into facial reconstruction have been lucrative in cosmetic surgery. This has fueled a lot of research in these areas, especially as many new kinds of possibilities have become possible and also because the trend in society has increased toward 'looking good'. Perhaps this has implications in society with regard to mate selections. Facial reconstructions in research have started focusing primarily on technologies and sciences that ensure that certain technical, technological and physiological problems are smoothed out. 1 For many cosmetologists, facial reconstructions involve certain set images and formulae that give rise to perfect and symmetrical faces. 2 Many of the studies show the use of a variety of flaps for use in facial reconstruction, like submental flaps, 3 facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flaps, 4,5 radial free flaps, 6 scapular flaps, epigastric artery adiposal flaps, 7 and rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, 8 among many others. However, anthropological studies show us that concepts of beauty are culture-specific. They cannot be said to be anything but subjective. As a result, conceptions of beauty from one region need not follow set patterns or rules. Further, individuals also have differences of opinion relating to what they consider to be most pleasing, especially in a mate. Hence, overall set schemes for facial reconstruction to create please-all faces are unlikely to work. Also, those who wish to change their facial structure caused by an accident or event often wish for something specific. This would generate a requirement for tailormade facial reconstructions. Artistic constructions of human faces are constructed by many artists using a variety of techniques for museums, for personal identification, for reconstruction of past evolutionary figures or even for showcasing cultures existing in the present day. Many such artists are not very well conversant with the science of facial reconstruction, but they understand the underlying structure of human bodies quite well. They use this Peer review under responsibility of Forensic Medicine Authority.

New fossils from the latest Pliocene portion of the Tatrot Formation exposed in the Siwalik Hills of northern India represent the first fossil record of a darter (Anhingidae) from India. The darter fossils possibly represent a new species, but the limited information on the fossil record of this group restricts their taxonomic allocation. The Pliocene darter has a deep pit on the distal face of metatarsal trochlea IV not reported in other anhingids, it has an open groove for the m. flexor perforatus et perforans digiti II tendon on the hypotarsus unlike New World anhingid taxa, and these darter specimens are the youngest of the handful of Neogene records of the group from Asia. These fossil specimens begin to fill in a significant geographic and temporal gap in the fossil record of this group that is largely known from other continents and other time periods. The presence of a darter and pelican (along with crabs, fish, turtles, and crocodilians) in the same fossil-bearing horizon s...

Biological anthropologists are geared towards explaining evolution, genetics, adaptation and diversity among human populations. Many of them are working in tandem with social/cultural anthropologists in order to link up their idea of biologically unique populations with cultural data that overlay the underlying reasons. However, others are still under the assumption that in such a globalized world, there was no point in working on small limited populations/communities when there was such a lot of linkage between groups and communities of individuals. Some biological anthropologists are now attempting to rework the idea of ethnicity which has been so far used as a sociological/socio-cultural/anthropological concept into a more biologically rewarding definition (Billinger 1).

This paper discusses for interrelated aspects of prehistoric and proto-historic cultures from the Chotanagpur region of India. It begins by looking at the ethno-archaeological data from the region. Then, it goes on to discuss the various kinds of rock art sites in the entire region. Third, it looks at the iron sites in the region. Finally, it looks at the phenomenon often described as Asura sites or Asura cultures in the region. All these elements would be studied to glean important facts regarding the prehistoric sites in the region and to attempt to find ways to understand their cultures. It is hoped that this paper would generate many studies that expand the scope of this paper to incorporate more data and many more ideas for a further and better understanding of these early cultures.

It seems to be evident from all the data that studies of DNA from human beings, combining both ancient and the modern, give us a hope of finding out the mishmash between the various kinds of pathways, human admixtures have occurred. Sometimes, to understand this process, one has to use the ultimate politically incorrect term 'race.' Thus, one may comment about the different 'races' of human beings, their migrations to different parts of the globe, and their genetic admixtures caused during the course of their journeys and the areas where they stayed. One attempt at looking at these admixtures would be the one by Jean M.

The archaeology of the Chotanagpur region, a plateau with an average height of 2000 feet above sea level in central and eastern India, has remained very complex and confusing. It is time now to rethink the entirety of research practices in the region and to put together the theories that model the existence of human beings in the region. Initially, an attempt has been made to put together the various theoretical approaches in the region, especially the industries and stages that have been proposed by various authors. Next, the recent sites found in the region purporting to be from the palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods have been highlighted. Finally, a set of conclusions that may explain some of the phenomena seen through the imperfect data of material culture are presented here. This, it is hoped, would lead to a better explanation of the prehistoric sites found in the Chotanagpur region. Finally, it might prove to be a means of further understanding the way prehistoric cultures have been manifesting themselves during the Neolithic period.

The Jats and Khaps reflect their identity through each other. A third dimension to their identity is the gotra. In the modern times too gotra, Jats and khaps are inseparable in the regions of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana of India. These three constituents form a linear structure to authorization and power. With changing scenario these institutions have also altered for the people they are meant to and function for. The Khap Panchayats are in a continuous transition as they evolve from the phonetic norms. † UGC Junior Research Fellow ‡ Professor, corresponding author INTRODUCTION When a majority of Indians, presently are undergoing a process of metamorphosis by shedding old customs and traditions, and catching up modernized approach, a section still holds the old customs of the society and resists any change in age-old practices. The commotion began in June when the Delhi High Court judgement dismissed the Public Interest Litigation (PIL), which sought amendments in the Hindu...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations of generalized and central adiposity with established metabolic risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) among Bengalee Hindu men of Kolkata, India. A cross-sectional study of 212 Bengalee Hindu men resident in Kolkata, India, was undertaken utilizing four measures of adiposity: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and conicity index (CI). Total cholesterol (TC), high density (HDL-C), low density (LDL-C) and very low density (VLDL-C) cholesterol lipoproteins, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting triglyceride (FTG) levels were recorded. Results revealed that BMI did not have significant correlation with any of the metabolic variables. The Pearson correlation coefficients (r) of the central adiposity measures (WC, WHR and CI) were similar. WC, WHR and CI were significantly correlated (except WC and TC) with TC, VLDL-C, FBG and FTG. However, HDL-C and LDL-C did not show significant correlation with WC, WHR and CI. Regression analyses revealed that WC, WHR and CI had significant impact on TC, VLDL-C, FBG and FTG. All three measures of central adiposity had similar effect. This significant effect remained essentially the same even after controlling for BMI. In conclusion, the present investigation revealed that among Bengalee Hindu men, any one of these three measures (WC, WHR and CI) can be used in cross-sectional epidemiological studies dealing with the relationship of central adiposity and metabolic risk factors for CHD.

Introduction: Recent findings show a high incidence of stroke among slum dwellers in Kolkata, India. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the association of different adiposity indices to blood pressure (BP) and hypertension (HT) among slum-dwelling Bengalee men in Kolkata. Methods: Measurements of height, weight, waist and hip-circumferences, biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) of 470 men aged 18-60 years were taken. Body mass index (BMI), body adiposity index (BAI), percent body fat, waist-height (WHtR) and waist-hip ratios (WHR) were computed. The effect of adiposity values on HT was estimated by logistic regressions, while partial correlations and linear regressions analyses of SBP and DBP with each index were performed. Results: BMI had the strongest correlation with blood pressure. The newly proposed index, BAI, had significant but considerably lower correlations with both BP compared to BMI and central adiposity. Both BMI and WHtR explained DBP with equal efficacy. Abdominal obesity, measured by WC, showed the strongest association with risk of HT, independent of age and BMI. The predictive effect of abdominal adiposity on blood pressure (SBP and DBP) appeared to be modified by age-BMI interaction. Conclusion: BAI showed no advantage over other adiposity measures in the prediction of hypertension among the men in this study. Waist circumference was the best obesity measure to predict hypertension and may be preferred to BMI considering its simplicity of measurement. The simple measure of WC might help in easy screening of hypertension among the poor people in resource constrained settings such as those in urban slums.

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (PBF) with central adiposity measures varies between ethnic groups and it has not been much studied in low socio-economic groups in India. Therefore, this study was undertaken to test the relative efficacy of waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), waist hip ratio (WHR) and conicity index (CI) to predict BMI and PBF among Bengalee Hindu male slum dwellers. A total of 465 adult (aged 18-72 years) male slum dwellers of Bengalee Hindu ethnicity were included. Standard anthropometric techniques and formulae were used. WC showed the strongest significant (p < 0.001) partial correlation with BMI and PBF (0.82 and 0.77, respectively). Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses of BMI and PBF with the central adiposity measures revealed that WC had the strongest impact on BMI and PBF. On the other hand WHR, HC and CI had weaker effect. Moreover, WC alone accounted for about 67 and 60 per cent of the variations, respectively, of BMI and PBF. The models involving only WC and CI, explained almost similar proportions of variations (adjR 2 = 94.1, and 69.4, respectively). Furthermore, the WC was found to best predict BMI (R 2 Change = 0.666; F Change = 921.32, p < 0.001) and PBF (R 2 Change = 0.597; F Change = 686.66, p < 0.001). Even after controlling for each other, i.e., BMI and PBF (results not shown) WC had the strongest significant impact on these two measures. Therefore, in this population, WC may be preferred over other measures of central adiposity in studies dealing with obesity and cardio vascular disease risk factors.

Background: Waist circumference (WC) is a useful surrogate marker of abdominal adiposity and a risk factor of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Asians have higher abdominal fat at a lower level of body mass index (BMI). Previous studies showed that WC was the best measure and correlate of abdominal fat and general adiposity, respectively, among the Bengalee people of Eastern India including the present sample. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical usefulness of waist circumference and its appropriate cut-off in identifying obesity and hypertension. Methods: Adult male slum dwellers aged between 18 and 60 years were included in the study. Height, weight, skinfolds, waist circumference, systolic-(SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (PBF) were also calculated. Obesity was defined as >25% of body fat. Mean (+ SD) and range statistics were used to describe the variables. WC values were divided into four categories, viz. <72cm, 72-79.9cm, 80-84.9cm and ≥ 85.0cm. ANCOVA was performed to observe the differences in mean SBP and, DBP between the WC categories, with age, smoking and alcohol consumption status as covariates. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regressions were employed to examine the relationship of WC with SBP and DBP. Adjusted odds ratios for hypertension by WC categories were obtained through logistic regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed the optimal value of WC to identify obesity. Results and conclusions: PBF increased significantly (F = 208.74, p<0.001) from the lowest WC category (10.6%) to the highest one (26.9%). Mean SBP and DBP also increased significantly from the lowest to the highest WC categories. Waist circumference had significant positive effect on both SBP (T=2.559, p<0.01) and DBP (T=3.256, p<0.05) irrespective of age and PBF. WC value >80.9cm could be accepted as the best cut-off point for WC to identify obesity. Participants with a WC of 80-84.9 cm were around three times more likely to have HT(p<0.005), however the likelihood increased to over 5 for those with a WC of > 85.0 cm when compared to lower WC categories. The odds ratio significantly increased for WCs at or above 80cm. Therefore the measurement of WC could be used to identify general obesity and be used as a screening tool for HT risk factors in Bengalee urban slum dwelling men. The WC cut off to define obesity and identifying hypertension was around 81cm.