Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Anthropology

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Anthropology

Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Claire Terhune

Committee Member

Dr. Claire Terhune

Second Committee Member

Dr. Kathleen Paul

Third Committee Member

Dr. Michael J. Plavcan

Fourth Committee Member

Dr. Kim Stauss

Abstract

Postmortem analysis of the skeleton can reveal patterns of trauma that have accumulated over an individual’s lifetime. Patterns of trauma within a species can also provide key insights into how that species lived and reflect aspects of their socioecology and life history. Research has been conducted often on postcranial trauma, but is rare regarding the craniofacial region and has not been examined broadly across primates. To fully understand patterns of trauma in primates, rates of trauma must be compared and placed into context of a variety of socioecological factors. To do so, I examined hypotheses including that species with higher rates of male-male competition will experience higher rates of craniofacial trauma and species that are arboreal will experience higher rates of craniofacial trauma when compared to terrestrial species. To conduct my research, I examined approximately 1000 skulls across 17 species of anthropoid primates and looked at overall pathology, wound size, and severity and location or affected area of the trauma. For each species, patterns and prevalence of trauma were assessed and z-tests performed to assess sex differences and whether rates of trauma differed significantly from zero. This data was then compared to a variety of socioecological factors including mating system, average life span, and agonism rate for each species. Prevalences of trauma in this sample ranged from 0% (Colobus polykomos) to 18% (Pan paniscus). Eleven species showed non-zero rates of trauma and only Papio anubis exhibited sex differences. Most lesions were located on the mandible or zygomatico-temporal region, and most were well-healed fractures. However, ANOVA and regression models found few significant relationships between trauma and other factors. This research shows that rates of trauma are highly variable, but a lack of clear socioecological relationships to trauma suggests these patterns are multifactorial.

Keywords

Primatology; Skeletal trauma; socioecology; phylogenetic relationships; skeletal biology

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