[Methodological contribution to craniometrical studies of various early mediaeval populations of the upper Danube region. I. The most usual cranial indices as a basis for population comparisons (graphic and approximation methods)]. / Methodische Beiträge zu kraniometrischen Studien einiger frühmittelalterlicher Populationen des oberen Donauraumes. I. Die gebräuchlichsten Schädelindices als Grundlage für Populationsvergleiche (graphische und Approximationsverfahren).

Using the means of five cranial indices of three early medieval groups from Austria and four comparative series from neighbouring regions (Southern Germany, CSSR and Hungary) distance measures and similarity relations were computed and the applied methods were compared. In addition, the attempt for a better consideration of the biological conditions was made by combining two known methods at a time (Dendrogram by means of (DD)2 distances; population-composition on the basis of adjacent secured comparative series). The results of this study reveal, that using the above cited simple methods on the only basis of the means of five cranial indices a correspondence with the attributions of the three Austrian series cited in the literature and basing on extensive investigations was obtained. Thus a very strong relation -- especially concerning the males -- resulted between the series from Pitten and the Slavic ones, and between the groups of Zwölfaxing -- more expressed in the females -- and the Avaric series. Of special interest are the results of the mixed population of Zwentendorf were the females resemble quite strikingly the Slavic, the males, however, the Bajuvaric comparative series.

[Plantar zygodactylous triradii in a population comparison]. / Populationsvergleiche plantarer zygodaktyler Triradien.

The plantar prints of 125 male Japanese were examined with regard to the frequencies of zygodactylous triradii and their expression types. Comparing the results with those of 500 males Viennese the two samples proved to be significantly different. The differences amount to such an extent that even by enlarging the Japanese sample no fundamental changes in the relations between the two populations might be expected. In Japanese the medium expression occurs in very low frequencies and the strong one not at all, while Europeans show those traits in about 60%. Comparing the pattern types characteristic for zygodactylous triradii, the Japanese revealed almost no proximal loops in the second and almost no whorls in the third interdigital area whereas Viennese showed high frequencies of both types. The findings of a sample of Angolan Bantus as well as those of a German one differ from the Japanese in the same way as the Viennese. It was observed that the line connecting the distal ends of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th toes is formed rather transversally in Japanese, while it is declining towards the 5th toe in Europeans and in Bantus. It requires further studies to prove if there exists a relation between this anatomical trait and the occurrence of zygodactylous triradii.

Variability of plantar zygodactylous triradii in monozygotic and dizygotic twins.

Using a special method, the dermatoglyphics of the plantar interdigital areas of 86 monozygotic and 76 dizygotic Polish twin pairs were obtained. The frequencies of different types of zygodactylous triradii were estimated using a recently published new scheme of classification. The second, third, and fourth interdigital areas were grouped together. The findings indicate a high heritability which suggest that zygodactylous triradii might be used as a valuable genetic marker.