Human first ribs demonstrate predictable, sequential changes in shape, size
, and texture with increasing age, and thus, can be used as an indicator of
age at death. Metamorphosis of the first rib's head, tubercle, and costal
face was documented in a cross-sectional sample of preadult and adult first
ribs of known age at death from the Hamann-Todd skeletal collection (Cleve
land Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, Ohio). Blind tests of the useful
ness of the first rib as an age indicator were conducted, including tabulat
ion of intraobserver and interobserver inaccuracies and biases. First rib a
ge estimates show inaccuracies and biases by decade comparable to those gen
erated by other aging techniques. Indeed, the first rib method is useful as
an isolated age indicator. When used in conjunction with other age indicat
ors, the first rib improves the quality of summary age assessments. (C) 199
9 Wiley-Liss, Inc.