The Somatology of Ulithi Atoll

Lessa, William A.; Lay, Tracy (September 1953). "The Somatology of Ulithi Atoll". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 11 (3): 405–412. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330110314. ISSN 1096-8644 0002-9483, 1096-8644 .

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Abstract: “The Somatology of Ulithi Atoll” by William A. Lessa and Tracy Lay, affiliated with the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at the University of California at Los Angeles, presents findings from the Coordinated Investigation of Micronesian Anthropology (CIMA) conducted in 1947 and 1948. This data, albeit from a small sample, contributes to the limited body of knowledge regarding Micronesian physical anthropology.

The article examines physical measurements and indices of the Ulithi Atoll inhabitants. It highlights that variations in facial measurements could be minimized with larger sample sizes and standardized observation methods. Despite previous studies by Hunt failing to reveal significant patterns, the article suggests that anthropometric data combined with serological analysis could provide insights into genetic linkages.

Table 1 includes means and standard deviations for physical traits of Ulithi males, whereas Table 2 adapted from Hunt provides means across several Micronesian islands, emphasizing the diversity among populations. Non-metrical data describe Ulithians primarily as light to medium brown-skinned with predominantly black hair, with some variations in hair and skin color observed.

The authors note the significance of photographic analysis in understanding physical diversity, proposing that previous notions of ‘Oceanic Negroid,’ ‘Mongoloid,’ and other racial labels require reconsideration in light of serological data. The study acknowledges the support from the Pacific Science Board and the University of Chicago, as well as funding from the University of California.

Overall, the article offers a detailed analysis of the physical characteristics and potential genetic insights of the Ulithi Atoll population and calls for more comprehensive studies integrating anthropometric and serological data

Extra details:

PMID: 13104653
QID: Q73321132
MAG: 2088972309
OpenAlex: W2088972309
CorpusID: 32049121