GOUGH'S CAVE 1 : ASSESSMENT OF SEX AND AGE AT DEATH 



49 



side. Distally, the epiphyses and the medial epicondyle secondary 

 centers of ossification are fully fused and the lines obliterated (both 

 on gross and radiographic examination) on both humeri. 



The Ulnae 



The proximal and distal epiphyses are fully fused. The lines between 

 the olecranon secondary centers and the proximal shafts are obliter- 

 ated (radiographically as well as on gross external examination). The 

 left ulna has a closed but still (barely ) visible epiphyseal line between 

 the head and shaft. Sclerotic epiphyseal lines can be seen between 

 the metaphyses and distal epiphyses of both ulnae, albeit more 

 distinctly in the left ulna. The distal epiphyseal lines are more 

 distinct in the antero-posterior than in the medio-lateral radiographs. 



The Radii 



The proximal (right and left) and distal (left) epiphyses are fully 

 fused, and the epiphyseal lines are obliterated on gross examination. 

 Radiographically, radiotranslucent lines can be faintly discerned on 

 the right proximal and left distal radius in antero-posterior view. 



The Hand Remains 



The metacarpals and phalanges all exhibit complete fusion of the 

 epiphyses externally. 



Summary 



With the exception of the proximal clavicles, all of the upper limb 

 epiphyseal lines are either entirely fused and completely obliterated, 

 or are essentially fused but still show a slight trace (mainly 

 radiographically) of the fusion line. These age indicators are all in 

 agreement, given normal variation, in assigning an age-at-death 

 between approximately 1 8 and 25 years, with the absence of fusion 

 in the proximal clavicle suggesting a maximum age estimate closer 

 to 22 or 23 years (McKern & Stewart, 1957). 



The Lower Limbs 



The Pelvis 



The symphyseal and auricular surfaces of the Gough's Cave 1 pelvis 

 are completely obscured by its articulated state, so that the age- 

 related metamorphosis of these surfaces cannot be employed for age 

 assessment. However, the ilium and the ischium show clear age 

 indicators. On the left ischium, the tuberosity epiphysis is unfused 

 along the external margin from the middle of the tuberosity to the 

 medial (pubic) end of the tuberosity; internally and proximally it is 

 fully fused. On the right tuberosity, there is only a hint of a persistent 

 fusion line externally, but it is partially obscured by matrix. Along 

 the iliac crests, there is also partial fusion of the epiphyseal lines. On 

 the right side, the crest is incompletely fused from the iliac pillar to 

 the iliac tuberosity, being completely unfused near the pillar and 

 tuberosity and partially fused between them. On the left side, the 

 crest is unfused (and absent) from the iliac pillar to the ventral 

 margin of the iliac tuberosity, and then partially fused along the 

 tuberosity. Ventrally, there is a fusion line still apparent externally 

 (but not internally) from the anterior superior iliac spine to the region 

 of the pillar. 



The Femora 



There is no trace of the epiphyseal fusion lines on the femora 

 externally, for the head, trochanters or condyles. Radiographically, 

 the fusion lines are completely obliterated through the trabeculae for 



the heads, the greater trochanters and the right distal epiphysis. 

 However, there is a hint of a line from the middle of the condyles to 

 the epicondyles in the antero-posterior radiograph of the left distal 

 femur. 



The Tibiae and Fibulae 



The right tibia and fibula also show no trace externally of fusion lines 

 distinct from normal capsular attachment areas around their epiphy- 

 ses. Distally, both have no trace of a fusion line radiographically, but 

 proximally both of the these bones show a slight indication of the 

 former fusion line. In the tibia, there is a hint of a condylar fusion line 

 in antero-posterior view, and the trabeculae of the proximal fibula 

 exhibit radiographically a head fusion line that is largely obliterated. 



The Pedal Remains 



The two lateral metatarsals have no retention of their head epiphy- 

 seal fusion lines, but the proximal metatarsal 1 still retains a slight 

 indication of the base fusion line. It is apparent only in the medio- 

 lateral radiographic view along the dorso-plantar middle third of the 

 base. 



Summary 



The leg bone and pedal epiphyseal fusion, all of which is normally 

 complete by late in the second decade, primarily indicates that this 

 individual was no younger than the late second decade but is unlikely 

 to be much older given the persistence of fusion lines radiographically 

 around the knee and in the proximal metatarsal 1. The degree of 

 fusion of the iliac crest, stages 1/2 of McKern & Stewart (1957), 

 places Gough's Cave 1 most likely between the ages of 17 and 19 

 with the possibility of being as old as 22. The partial fusion of the 

 ischial tuberosity suggests a similar age, most likely between 17 and 

 21 but unlikely to be older than about 22 years. 



Summary Age Assessment 



In contrast to the ambiguities of sexual determination of Gough's 

 Cave 1, the various indicators of his age-at-death are highly consist- 

 ent. All of them agree in placing Gough's Cave 1 between his late 

 second decade and middle third decade. In this, the dentition sug- 

 gests an age between about 1 8 and 24 years, the vertebrae suggest an 

 age in the middle of the third decade, whereas the rib and appendicu- 

 lar epiphyses (including the pelvis) suggest an age between the late 

 second and the early third decade. It therefore appears that Gough's 

 Cave 1 was unlikely to have been younger than about 1 8 years at 

 death, and most likely was not older than about 23 years at death. 



REFERENCES 



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 Holliday, T.W. & Churchill, S.E. 2003. Gough's Cave 1 (Somerset, England): an 



assessment of body size and shape. Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Geology, 



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 Howells, W.W. 1973. Cranial Variation in Man. Papers of the Peabody Museum of 



Archaeology and Ethnology, 67: 1-259. 

 Humphrey, L. T. & Stringer, C. 2002. The human cranial remains from Gough's Cave 



(Somerset. England). Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Geology, 58: 153— 



168. 

 Key, C.A., Aiello, L.C. & Molleson, T. 1994. Cranial suture closure and its implica- 

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