Odontometrics: a useful method for sex determination in an archaeological skeletal population?

Determining sex is one of the most important steps in the procedure of identification of the unknown person. Teeth are a potential source of information on sex.The research is performed on the total of 86 skulls excavated in the late 19th and early 20th century from the mediaeval cemetery (10th and 11th century) at the archaeological site of Bijelo Brdo near Osijek. The material is stored in the Museum of Archaeology in Zagreb. Sex is determined on the basis of 20 osseal craniofacial, as well as odontometric features. Sexual dimorphism of the odontometric features is tested by the Students' t-test method.Determining sex on the basis of craniofacial features is possible in 55.8% of the cases. Combining the craniofacial and odontometric features it is possible to determine sex in 86% of the cases.In cases where ante-mortem data on sex are not available it is best to combine a number of different methods in order to raise the level of confidence and the level of success in sex determination.