Phenotype variability of the skeleton: asymmetry, sexual dimorphism and their changes in time

This doctoral thesis is submitted in the form of science publications and conference presentations together with theoretical introduction. It presents several points of view on the variability evaluation in the skull (and postcranial skeleton), with accent on diachronic changes monitoring, asymmetry and sexual dimorphism. This study concentrates on analysis (using traditional and geometric morphometrics) of size and shape of the skull, limb bones and face in the samples originated in the region of the Czech Republic (Central Europe). The first one is a photographical documentation of the Upper Palaeolithic skulls from Předmostí near Přerov (age 25,000 - 27,000 years). The second material is represented by skulls and limb bones deriving from the Early Mediaeval settlement in Mikulčice (The Great Moravia, 9th - 10th century). The third sample originated in the 1930s in Prague, so called Pachner Collection. The last comparative sample presents radiographs of the head and 3D surface models of faces of the recent society. Study of skeletal asymmetry of populations (Bigoni et al., v recenzním řízení, 2005; Kujanová et al., 2008), its level and localization, enables us to compare behavioral patterns, living conditions, socioeconomic differences and variability within and between populations (Mikulčice vs...