idklolimo
Well-known member
One key anthropometric trait is the facial index. It is measured by the length of the face from the root of the nose to the bottom of the chin, expressed as a percentage of the greatest breadth across the cheek-bones. High facial indices indicate a long face while low facial indices indicate a broad face. Interestingly, individuals of mixed ancestry often show a higher facial index than the original types. Men often show slightly higher values. Also, nutrition can alter the facial index, e.g. coarse-fibered nutrition during childhood stimulates growth of the masticatory muscles and leads to broader faces. Thus the importance of the facial index as an anthropological criterion is only modest. Still, several types can be characterised by relatively broad faces compared to other types. For those reasons, on this site only a distinction between broad and narrow face is mentioned in some type descriptions. More precisely, the facial index can be grouped into leptoprosop (narrow-faced), mesoprosop (medium- to wide-faced) and euryprosop (wide-faced).
leptoprosop
Leptoprosop individuals have a length-breadth ratio of the face greater than 88, hyperleptoprosop individuals greater than 93. Such indices typically indicate long faces. Leptoprosopy occurs in many regions with narrow noses (see nasal index): in Northwestern Europe, parts of North and East Africa, as well as West Asia. In Europe, leptoprosopy is found often in Nordics and Mediterraneans, however both have broader faced subvarieties as well. A vast region from the Levant to Persia and North India is leptoprosop. In Africa, leptoprosopy is often found in East Africans, mainly in all the different Ethiopid varieties.
mesoprosop
Mesoprosopy is widespread in many parts of the world. It is defined as a length-breadth ratio of the face greater than 84, but lower than 88. Thus it is typical for medium-broad faces. Mesoprosopy dominates in Europe, Africa, Asia and most of America. It is relatively rare in Australia only.
euryprosop
Europrosopy is defined as a length-breadth ratio of the face lower than 83, hypereuryprosopy as a ratio lower than 79. Thus, euryprosop faces are usually broad. They are found in Lapland and some areas of South Central Europe. Much of the African forest belt has euryprosop populations as well as several Khoisan groups of South Africa. Euryprosopy is also common in Central Asia and sometimes found in North Asia. It occurs in several mountain groups of Indochina and the Sunda Islands as well as much of Australia, New Guinea, and Melanesia. In Native America it is most common in the central parts of the continent.
leptoprosop
Leptoprosop individuals have a length-breadth ratio of the face greater than 88, hyperleptoprosop individuals greater than 93. Such indices typically indicate long faces. Leptoprosopy occurs in many regions with narrow noses (see nasal index): in Northwestern Europe, parts of North and East Africa, as well as West Asia. In Europe, leptoprosopy is found often in Nordics and Mediterraneans, however both have broader faced subvarieties as well. A vast region from the Levant to Persia and North India is leptoprosop. In Africa, leptoprosopy is often found in East Africans, mainly in all the different Ethiopid varieties.
mesoprosop
Mesoprosopy is widespread in many parts of the world. It is defined as a length-breadth ratio of the face greater than 84, but lower than 88. Thus it is typical for medium-broad faces. Mesoprosopy dominates in Europe, Africa, Asia and most of America. It is relatively rare in Australia only.
euryprosop
Europrosopy is defined as a length-breadth ratio of the face lower than 83, hypereuryprosopy as a ratio lower than 79. Thus, euryprosop faces are usually broad. They are found in Lapland and some areas of South Central Europe. Much of the African forest belt has euryprosop populations as well as several Khoisan groups of South Africa. Euryprosopy is also common in Central Asia and sometimes found in North Asia. It occurs in several mountain groups of Indochina and the Sunda Islands as well as much of Australia, New Guinea, and Melanesia. In Native America it is most common in the central parts of the continent.
