Pelvic age estimation using actual specimens and remote images

Age estimates of the auricular surface (sacro-iliac joint) of the ilium tak en from bony specimens, 35 mm slides, and digital images were compared for 29 intact specimens from archaeological contexts. Results demonstrate that age estimates from all photographic and digital images may result in signif icantly differing estimates of age than those from bony specimens. Of the i maging techniques, 35 mm slides provided estimates most similar to those fr om bony specimens. Digital images provided age estimates that varied more f rom bony specimens. In general, photographic and digital images may offer r esearchers a way of documenting age information that would otherwise be una vailable or delayed. Yet, caution should be used when age estimates are der ived solely from images rather than from bony specimens.