Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 85. (Budapest 1993)

Finnegan, M., Tóth, T. , Ferencz, M. , Fóthi, E. ; Pap, I.: Biological distance during the Avar period based on non-metric cranial data

which exceeds the chance expectation at that level in this analysis. In general, 9 of these significant differences were found with the greater frequency was present on the left side and in 11 significant differences, the greater frequency was on the right side. Additionally, it must be mentioned that in 7 cases of significant side asymmetry, the sample size was less than 12 for one or both sides under consideration. The particular formulation of the chi square test used here is apparently sensitive to sample side and such may have produced significant differences due to sample size rather than to absolute frequency differences. Four traits showed a significant side difference in more than one population and in each case, the higher frequency was on the same side in each population. The two traits with higher frequency on the right side in more than one population were Asterionic Bone and Mandibular Foramen Double. The two traits with higher frequency on the left side were Posterior Condylar Canal Patent and Anterior Condylar Canal Bipartite. The remaining traits which showed a single occurrence of a significant difference were randomly distributed among the traits as well as among the nine population samples. In looking at side asymmetry in the female sample, we would expect 16 significant differences at or above the .05 level and 2 significant differences at or above the .01 level of significance. Eighteen significant differences were found at the .05 level of significance which exceeds chance expectation by two significance differences. Two significant differences were found at the .01 level, but chance expectation is slightly greater than 3 at the .01 level; therefore, we do not exceed chance expectation. As with the males, 7 of the 18 female cases where significant differences occurred, the sample size (N) was equal or less than 12 on one or both sides, suggesting that these significant differences may be due to the sample size rather than a real difference in side asymmetry. Unlike the males, there are but two cases in the females where more than two samples show a significant difference for the same trait: the Parietal Notch Bone, where in one sample the frequency on the left side was greater, while in two other samples, the frequency on the right side was greater, and Pterion form where, in one sample the right side frequency was greater and in two other samples the left side frequency was greater. As well, there are two traits which showed a significant difference in more than one sample, represented by Supra-orbital Foramen Complete which in one sample showed the higher frequency was found in the left, and Mastoid Foramen Exsutural where in both samples the right frequency was greater. The remaining eight significant differences were distributed rather randomly among the traits and among the population samples. By considering the random nature of these significant differences as well as the fact that when a trait shows a significant difference in more than one population sample, it appears that there is a balance between the left or right side displaying the higher frequency. Along with the fact, mentioned above, that in seven instances the sample size was quite small, it suggest to us that we can legitimately pool the sides if the cranium rather than the cranium by itself as the basis for our data base. While in the present instance we feel justified in coalescing the sides in our sample, there are instances and priorities where sides should not be considered as the basic unit (see SUCHY 1975, GREEN et al. 1979). Under appropriate conditions (FINNEGAN & RUBISON 1980b, 1984 and FINNEGAN & MCGUIRE 1979), the treatment of cranial or infracranial non-metric traits based on very slight side to side differences is a basis for accurate assignment of one particular cranium (or infracranial skeleton) into its logical