The Influence of Population Variability on Pelvic Sexual Dimorphism: A Case Study from the Parthian Cemetery (247 BCE to 224 AD), Liyarsangbon in Guilan, Iran.

A population-specific approach to skeletal analysis is critical due to the impacts of environmental and culturalfactors on human variation. This study analysed sex determination in 77 individuals, discovered from the Liyar-Sang-Bon cemetery in Guilan, Iran (2016–2018), using both metric and non-metric innominate bone assessments.Its primary aim was to evaluate the applicability of global standards and identify factors shaping anatomicalvariation in this population. Initial analyses applied global sex determination methods, followed by statisticalcomparisons (t-tests) to identify reliable indicators within the pelvis, including the sacrum and Os coxae. Theresults reveal significant sexual dimorphism in certain pelvic regions, although not all indicators met the statisticalthreshold (P<0.05). These findings highlight the limitations of universal standards, emphasising the need forpopulation-specific data. They also demonstrated that results may vary when using with larger or more diversesamples. The study underscores the challenges of pelvic-based sex estimation due to biological and populationdiversity. By comparing traditional and modern methods, it advocates for localised methodologies and contributesinvaluable insights into human biodiversity. Future research that integrates broader skeletal evidence with largersample sizes is essential for refining techniques and enhancing accuracy in both forensic and bioarchaeologicalapplications.