Anatomy and Sex-determining features of the mastoid process in Ancient Anatolian Societies

Identification of human skeletal remains is a highly critical process, especially from legal and societal perspectives. Accurate determination of sex is crucial in this process. Morphological analysis of the skull, particularly the cranial region, plays a significant role in sex determination. This study aims to investigate the anatomical structure, localization, and usability of the mastoid region and processus mastoideus in sex determination. The study utilized 79 adult skulls (30 female and 49 male) from different periods in Anatolia, registered in the bone archive of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University's Department of Anthropology. Parameters such as width, depth, and height of the cranium, distances from the proc. mastoideus to important topographic points, as well as width, depth, and height parameters of proc. mastoideus, proc. occipitomastoideus, and incisura mastoidea, mastoid triangle, and various angular measurements of basion and opisthion triangles created on the cranial base were taken. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, including comparisons between left-right and sexes. Differences between sexes were observed in all parameters except for mastoid process width, incisura mastoidea angle, asterion-porion distance, asterion, opisthion, and inion angles, and basion triangle area and perimeter parameters. The findings will contribute to various scientific fields, particularly forensic sciences and anatomical research.