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Investigating the Reliability and Validity of the Portable Osteometric Device

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 February 2024

Eric Anderson Open the ORCID record for Eric Anderson [Opens in a new window] ,
Sierra W. Malis Open the ORCID record for Sierra W. Malis [Opens in a new window] ,
Anna J. Osterholtz Open the ORCID record for Anna J. Osterholtz [Opens in a new window]  and
Molly K. Zuckerman
Eric Anderson*
Affiliation:
Cultural Surveys Hawaii, Kailua, HI, USA
Sierra W. Malis
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA; National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
Anna J. Osterholtz
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
Molly K. Zuckerman
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
*
(ehanderson2034@gmail.com, corresponding author)
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Abstract

Metric analysis of skeletal material is integral to the analysis and identification of human remains, though one commonly used measuring device, the osteometric board, has lagged in recent advancement. Traditional boards are bulky and require manual measurement recording, potentially generating intra- and interobserver error. To address these limitations, we tested the reliability, validity, and error rates of a novel device, the Portable Osteometric Device Version 1 (PODv1), which measures distance using laser sensors with time-of-flight technology. Forty-five volunteers measured four skeletal elements with the PODv1 and a PaleoTech osteometric board in three rounds. Comparison of tibia, humerus, and femur measurements with both devices showed no significant differences, although the maximum length of the ulna did differ, potentially because of observer confusion regarding the PODv1's user instructions for this element. Our results suggest that the PODv1 is a reliable, valid measurement device compared to traditional osteometric boards. Although both device types can produce calibration, transcription, and observer errors, the time-of-flight technology and the absence of manual recording built into the PODv1 may limit those errors. These advancements and their potential positive impacts on the accuracy of osteometric data collection may have far-reaching benefits for osteological, bioarchaeological, paleopathological, and forensic anthropological data collection.

El análisis métrico del material esquelético es integral para el análisis e identificación de restos humanos, aunque uno de los dispositivos de medición más comúnmente utilizados, la tabla osteométrica, ha quedado rezagada en los avances recientes. Las tablas tradicionales son voluminosas y requieren la medición manual, lo que puede generar errores intra e inter-observador. Para abordar estas limitaciones, probamos la confiabilidad, validez y tasas de error de un nuevo dispositivo, el Dispositivo Osteométrico Portátil Versión 1 (PODv1), que mide la distancia utilizando sensores láser con tecnología de tiempo de vuelo. Cuarenta y cinco voluntarios midieron cuatro elementos esqueléticos con el PODv1 y una tabla osteométrica PaleoTech en tres rondas. La comparación de las medidas de la tibia, el húmero y el fémur con ambos dispositivos no mostró diferencias significativas, aunque la longitud máxima de la ulna difirió entre ellos, posiblemente debido a la confusión del observador en torno a las instrucciones de uso del PODv1 para este elemento. Los resultados sugieren que el PODv1 es un dispositivo de medición confiable y válido en comparación con las tablas osteométricas tradicionales. Aunque ambos tipos de dispositivos pueden implicar errores de calibración, transcripción y observación, la tecnología de tiempo de vuelo y la ausencia de necesidad de registro manual incorporadas en el PODv1 pueden limitar estos problemas. Estos avances y sus posibles impactos positivos en la precisión de la recopilación de datos osteométricos pueden tener beneficios de largo alcance para la recopilación de datos osteológicos, bioarqueológicos, paleopatológicos y antropológicos forenses.

Keywords

osteometricsanthropometricsosteometric boardvalidity testosteometríaantropometríatablero osteométricoprueba de validez
Type
Article
Information
Advances in Archaeological Practice , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , May 2024 , pp. 133 - 142
Open Practices
Open materials
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for American Archaeology

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This article has earned badges for transparent research practices: Open Materials. For details see the Data Availability Statement.

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