Determination of sex by sciatic notch/acetabular ratio (Kelley’s Index) in Indian Bengali skeletal remains.

ABSTRACT

Kelley used the sciatic notch is to acetabular ratio as the osteometric method to differentiate between male and female hipbones. The present study was designed to examine the applicability of this index (sciatic notch /acetabular height ratio) and the rule of thumb (of Kelley) in Indian Bengali skeletal remains. A preliminary attempt was made to derive a sectioning point and propose a new ―rule of thumb‖ approach for determining sex from skeletal remains. The study showed that bones with sciatic notch /acetabular height index equal or greater than .93 (or 93 when expressed as a percentage) was definitely female and those with values less than .93 were male. The results of applying this new rule on the present series of Indian Bengali hipbones indicate that 93.3 % of the total sample could be correctly classified in to the proper sex. Of those 92.8% of the males and 93.75% of the females were correctly classified by the new rule. The present new rule of thumb approach is a valid, effective, reliable, population specific and easy method to differentiate between male and female pelvis in Indian Bengali skeletal remains.