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Extension "FrNonMetricTraits" for RDFBones-O

This is an RDFBones extension for the documentation of non-metric traits. The 14 cranial and mandibular non-metric traits are a subset of the non-metric traits included in the data entry form used at Biological Anthropology Freiburg and described in Saunders & Rainey 2008. The English translations are according to the terminology of Hauser and DeStefano 1989. The traits included in FrNonMetricTraits were recorded for skulls from the Alexander Ecker Collection in order to deal with repatriation claims. For further information on the Alexander Ecker Collection cf. Kästner et al. 2011.

Furthermore, FrNonMetricTraits is enriched with detailed descriptions of the non-metric traits: the definitions from Hauser & DeStefano 1989 were added as descriptions to the assay specifications. Thus, FrNonMetricTraits is more than just a spreadsheet for data entry: FrNonMetricTraits documents the whole investigation process and thereby contributes to transparency and repeatability of anthropological investigations.

Wiki index

The structure of the FrNonMetricTraits ontology is based on the concept of RDFBones extensions first elaborated in the extension FrSexEst. Thus, this wiki is shorter than the FrSexEst wiki and focuses more on the anthropological workflow. Readers interested in developing their own extension should rather have a look at the FrSexEst wiki which discusses some technical as well as philosophical/ontological issues related to extension writing. This wiki covers the following topics:

• Anthropological background
• General structure of FrNonMetricTraits
• Investigation planning
  • Study design
• Study design execution
  • Specimen collection
  • Data collection
• Conclusion

The network graphs shown in this wiki follow the key to symbols in network graphs defined in the RDFBones-O wiki.

References

Hauser, G., & De Stefano, G. F. (1989). Epigenetic variants of the human skull.

Kästner, M., Ortolf, S., Rüdell, A., Möller, D., & Wittwer-Backofen, U. (2011). The Alexander Ecker Collection in Freiburg. Documenta Archaeobiologiae, 8, 275-284.

Katzenberg, M. A., & Saunders, S. R. (Eds.). (2008). Biological anthropology of the human skeleton. John Wiley & Sons.