MANDIBULAR FOSSA SIZE VARIATION IN PAST AND EXTANT HUMAN-POPULATIONS

Available information on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) morphometri c variation among chronogeographically and economically distinct human populations remains scant on the whole. In this study the sex-related relationships between mandibular fossa size and subsistence patterns among 21 archaeological and errant adult population samples (original and published data) were investigated including a total of 284 hunter- gatherers (HG), 439 traditional agriculturalists (AG), 249 modern urba nites (Mu). Chronologically spanning from the late Upper Paleolithic u p to the present, the samples represent African and African-derived po pulations, native Americans, European, European-derived, and South Asi an populations. The results reinforce the statement that larger mandib ular fossa size in hunter-gatherers represents a compensatory response to more vigorous (or strenuous) oral functions occurring during growt h. Nevertheless, the intermediate position in terms of size between hu nter-gatherers and traditional (archaeological) agriculturalists regul arly disclosed by modern urbanites may be interpreted as a side-effect of a general secular trend occurred in body size. Morphometric sexual dimorphism fluctuates, randomly, thus showing population-specific var iation patterns. The need for further analytical and comparative resea rch on past and extant populations of the mandibular fossa growth rate s and patterns is stressed.