Human variation in the periosteal geometry of the lower limb: Signatures of behaviour among human Holocene populations

Abstract

Behavioural influences upon human diaphyseal morphology are well documented; however, relatively little is known about the relationship between ecogeographic variation in body shape and the variation in diaphyseal strength parameters throughout long bone diaphyses. Diaphyseal rigidity of the femur and tibia was assessed among a range of human Holocene populations, using 3D laser surface scans to extract cross-sectional biomechanical data from periosteal contours. Within particular regions of the lower limb, most notably the mid-diaphyseal region of the tibial diaphysis, signatures of high mobility may override the confounding effects of different body size and shape signatures. Populations display specific distributions of cross-sectional properties that should be matched to independent indicators of underlying mobility levels. Variation in location of minimal cross-sectional rigidity is also considered and merits further investigation. This whole-limb approach may enable further isolation of behavioural signatures in long bone geometry.