Abstract
A complex morphological description based on a wide range of somatic features (30 characteristics) is presented for two modern indigenous ethnic groups of Indonesia: Minahasans (N = 93) and Sangirese (N = 76). These groups have not yet been extensively described in scientific publications from the standpoint of physical anthropology. To collect the data used in the research, the authors organized an anthropological expedition to the islands of Indonesia, Sulawesi, and Sangir. The examination program included the assessment of skin and iris pigmentation, estimation of hair shape and color, and measurements of body and limbs. It was shown that the Minahasans had a more sturdy build than the Sangirese by most morphological characteristics and typological features. The body proportions of the Minahasans and Sangirese were compared with the corresponding parameters in representatives of other Mongoloid and Equatorial populations of Asia, Oceania, and Australia using multidimensional statistical methods. It was concluded that the Sangirese were the closest to the Equatorial anthropological type by body characteristics among the studied Mongoloid groups of Southeast Asia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Belwood, P., Prehistory of the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago, Honolulu: Univ. Hawaii Press, 2007.
Chuan, T.K., Hartono, M., and Kumar, N., Anthropology of the Singaporean and Indonesian populations, Int. J. Ind. Ergon., 2010, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 757–766.
Ivanovskii, A.A., Naselenie zemnogo shara. Opyt antropologicheskoi klassifikatsii (The World’s Population. Attempt of Anthropological Classification), Moscow: Tip. P.P. Ryabushinskago, 1911.
Brown, C., A Short History of Indonesia: The Unlikely Nation?, Singapore: Talisman Publ. Pte Ltd., 2011.
Wallace, A.R., The Malay Archipelago, Singapore: Periplus Ed., 2008.
Deryabin, V.E., Building a typology of body proportions by the method of principal components, in Problemy evolyutsionnoi morfologii cheloveka i ego ras (Problems of Evolutionary Morphology of Humans and Human Race), Alekseev, V.P. and Zubov, A.A, Eds., Moscow: Nauka, 1986.
Krogman, W.M., The physical anthropology of the Seminole Indians of Oklahoma, Comitato Italians per lo Studie dei Problemi della Popolazione, 1934, vol. 2, no. 3, p. 119.
Koganei, Y., Beitrage zur physischen Anthropologie der Aino. I. Untersuchungen am Skelett, Mitt. Med. Fachsch. Kais. Univ. Tokyo, 1893, vol. 2, pp. 1–249.
Takayama, H., Somatometric study of Nisei (2nd generation Japanese immigrants), Lima, Peru, Anthropol. Sci., 1998, vol. 106, suppl. P, pp. 189–201.
Kurisu, K., Multivariate statistical analysis on the physical interrelationship of native tribes in Sarawak, Malaysia, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 1970, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 229–234.
Lin, Y-Ch., Wang, M-J.J., and Wang, E.M., The comparisons of anthropometric characteristics among four peoples in East Asia, Appl. Ergon., 2004, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 173–178.
Prokopec, M., Anthropometric study of the Rembarranga: comparison with other populations, J. Hum. Evol., 1977, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 371–391.
Suzuki, H. and Kouchi, M., Somatometric data of Chinese, J. Anthropol. Soc. Nippon, 1986, vol. 94, no. 2, pp. 177–181.
Zheng, L., Li, Y., Lu, S., Bao, J., Wang, J., Zhang, X., Xue, H., and Rong, W., Physical characteristics of Chinese Hakka, Sci. China: Life Sci., 2013, vol. 56, no. 6, pp. 541–551.
Wells, J.C.K., Ecogeographical associations between climate and human body composition: analyses based on anthropometry and skinfolds, Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 2012, vol. 147, no. 2, pp. 169–186.
Tilckens, M.J., Wall-Scheffler, S., Weaver, T., and Steudel-Numbers, K., The effects of body proportions on thermoregulation: an experimental assessment of Allen’s rule, J. Hum. Evol., 2007, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 286–291.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © E.M. Selivanova, M.A. Negasheva, S.V. Drobyshevsky, K.V. Moshonkina, 2016, published in Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta, Seriya 16: Biologiya, 2016, No. 3, pp. 3–10.
About this article
Cite this article
Selivanova, E.M., Negasheva, M.A., Drobyshevsky, S.V. et al. Anthropological characteristics in some indigenous groups in modern Indonesia. Moscow Univ. Biol.Sci. Bull. 71, 115–120 (2016). https://doi.org/10.3103/S009639251603010X
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S009639251603010X