The Pubic Symphysis as an Age Indicator for Mountain Gorillas

Physical Anthropologists and Bioarchaeologists need to determine age at death from the human remains they are analyzing to build a biological profile of the individual and for population demographics. One of the primary skeletal features employed to estimate age in adults is the pubic symphysis, which in humans is known to undergo predictable age-related changes in its morphology. However, studies assessing the reliability of this method for age determination in non-human primates are rare. The present study utilizes the macroscopic changes in the pubic symphysis to find a viable age estimation technique in non-human primates, particularly mountain gorillas. The method is tested in a unique sample of wild primates of documented chronological age – mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei; N=43) recovered postmortem from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Based on previously published methods of age estimation using the human pubic symphysis, this study puts forth a modified set of phases pertaining specifically to the aging patterns of mountain gorillas. The trends exhibited by humans and mountain gorillas in respect to the metamorphosis of the pubic symphysis are remarkably similar, and the five phases explained in this study closely align with previous research on humans. The present study aims to contribute to the identification process of unknown mountain gorilla remains and hopes to further critical research with this highly endangered species.

Author

• Rondeau, Meaghan

Language

• en

Keyword

• Pubic Symphysis
• Rwanda
• Mountain Gorilla
• Aging Technique

Date created

• 2018

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Anthropology

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• McFarlin, Shannon
• Hunt, David

Committee Member(s)

• Hunt, David
• McFarlin, Shannon

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/7p88cg833