<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Sex determination is one of the most important and initial steps in human profile identification from archaeological material. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the application of molecular approaches alongside morphological methods for sex determination in archaeological human skeletal remains. Human skeletal remains were excavated from three cemeteries: St Gertrude Old Church, Dom Square and St Peter’s Church, of 15th–17th century burials in Rīga, Latvia. Morphological and molecular genetic methods, including amplification of genes <italic>AMELX/Y</italic> and <italic>SRY</italic> were used to analyse seven skeletal remains. The conducted analyses of morphological features identified sex in all seven cases (two females and five males). By molecular analyses of mediaeval DNA it was possible to determine sex in five of seven (71%) samples. In all positive cases full agreement between morphological estimation and molecular genetic methods was observed. To conclude, DNA analysis can be considered for sex identification in cases with no signs of sexual dimorphism (juvenile skeletons) or partially preserved skeletons.</abstract>

Sex determination is one of the most important and initial steps in human profile identification from archaeological material. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the application of molecular approaches alongside morphological methods for sex determination in archaeological human skeletal remains. Human skeletal remains were excavated from three cemeteries: St Gertrude Old Church, Dom Square and St Peter’s Church, of 15th–17th century burials in Rīga, Latvia. Morphological and molecular genetic methods, including amplification of genes AMELX/Y and SRY were used to analyse seven skeletal remains. The conducted analyses of morphological features identified sex in all seven cases (two females and five males). By molecular analyses of mediaeval DNA it was possible to determine sex in five of seven (71%) samples. In all positive cases full agreement between morphological estimation and molecular genetic methods was observed. To conclude, DNA analysis can be considered for sex identification in cases with no signs of sexual dimorphism (juvenile skeletons) or partially preserved skeletons.

Morphological Characterisation And Molecular Sex Determination Of Human Remains From The 15th–17th Centuries In Latvia

Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Rātsupītes iela 1, Rīga, LV-1067, LATVIA

Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, Akadēmijas lauk. 1, Rīga, LV-1050, LATVIA

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Morphological Characterisation And Molecular Sex Determination Of Human Remains From The 15–17 Centuries In Latvia

15.–17. GADSIMTA LATVIJAS ANTROPOLOĢISKĀ MATERIĀLA CILVĒKU KAULU MORFOLOĢISKAIS RAKSTUROJUMS UN TO DZIMUMA MOLEKULĀRĀ NOTEIKŠANA

Sex determination is one of the most important and initial steps in human profile identification from archaeological material. The aim of the current study was...

Morphological Characterisation And Molecular Sex Determination Of Human Remains From The 15^th–17^th Centuries In Latvia

Published Online: Jul 14, 2015

Page range: 8 - 13

Received: Jun 12, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2014-0013

Keywords
archaeological material, ancient DNA, anthropological characteristics, amelogenin,

© Asta Ščėsnaitė-Jerdiakova et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Morphological Characterisation And Molecular Sex Determination Of Human Remains From The 15th–17th Centuries In Latvia

Published Online: Jul 14, 2015

Page range: 8 - 13

Received: Jun 12, 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2014-0013

Keywordsarchaeological material, ancient DNA, anthropological characteristics, amelogenin,

© Asta Ščėsnaitė-Jerdiakova et al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Morphological Characterisation And Molecular Sex Determination Of Human Remains From The 15^th–17^th Centuries In Latvia

Keywords
archaeological material, ancient DNA, anthropological characteristics, amelogenin,