Odontometric determination of sex at Mound 72, Cahokia

A groundbreaking analysis of dental remains from Mound 72 at Cahokia challenges previous assumptions about the site's mortuary practices. While earlier skeletal analyses suggested that four mass graves contained only female skeletons, this study reveals that each group actually included individuals classified as male using modern odontometric techniques. The research employed discriminant function equations derived from a pooled sample of skeletons from nearby sites, addressing methodological limitations posed by poor bone preservation and the developmental stage of the original specimens. These findings necessitate a reevaluation of archaeological interpretations regarding Cahokia's social structures and burial customs.

Thompson, A. R. (2013). Odontometric determination of sex at Mound 72, Cahokia. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 151(3), 408–419. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22282