A STUDY O F T H E UPPER FACIAL INDEX I N

DIVERSE RACIAL TYPES O F MANKIND

CRANIOMETRIC STUDIES, No. 23
This index represents the proportion which the upper facial
height (the nasion-alveolar length) bears to the interzygo-
matic or facial width. It is important to mention this fact
at the very commencement of this communication, as there
is a so-called complete facial index which is a study of the
proportion between the facial width and the complete facial
height, as measured from the nasioii to the menton. It must
therefore be clearly understood that the term ‘facial index’
whenever it is mentioned in this paper will, in every instance,
refer to the upper facial index.
The cranial material that was utilized in this paper was
exactly the same as that used in Craniometric Studies no. 21
and no. 32.
It was apparently Rollmann(7) who first suggested that
a comparison might be made between the nasion-alveolar
length and the interzygomatic width, the latter being taken
as representing 100. His facial index was thus obtained from
the following formula :
Nasion-alveolar leiigth X 100
I iiterzygomatic width

A facial index of 50 would thus mean that the facial height

was 50 per cent of the facial width. Kollmann therefore sug-
gested that crania possessing indices of 50.1 and upward
should be regarded as lepto-prosopic, i.e., narrow- o r long-
faced. On the other hand, crania with indices of 50 or under
would have to be classed as chamae-prosopic, i.e., low- or
short-faced.
The present writer(1) found that the average facial index
for the male Eskimo crania collected by the Canadian Arctic
344
 CRAPIOMETRIC STUDIES 345

Expedition, 1913-1918, was 54.6. He decided to compare this

with the index for the European type of skull. F o r example,
it was ascertained to be fractionally higher than the average
facial index for Turner’s Scottish male crania(7), which was
given by him as 54.3. This result indicated, of course,
that the Eskimo, a representative of the Mongolian
race, was slightly more long-faced on the average than
the Scotsman. As a result of this finding, the writer
was much perplexed to read a statement by Turner
(opeit.) to the effect that “the Scottish face is therefore
long and narrow in comparison with the broad, squat faces
in the Mongolian and some other types of head.” This diffi-
culty was increased when the writer ascertained that the
average facial index for the male Mongol crania of the U. S.
National Museum was given in HrdliFka’s catalogue( 4) as
54.5, which was likewise fractionally higher than the average
f o r the Scottish male crania. Moreover, it should be stated
that the Mongolian type of skull, although it is admittedly
broad, is in reality not ‘squat,’ for the present writer has
shown in Craniometric Study no. 21 that it possessed the
maximum average facial height for all the racial types that
were examined. Thus the average f o r the male Mongol was
ascertained to be 77.6 mm., as compared with only 71.6 mm.
for the Scottish male(7).
The present writer can well understand Turner’s position,
for in his day the data regarding the facial index were very
meager in amount. Indeed, it may be confidently stated that
it is only since the publication of HrdliGlra’s three valuable
catalogues that a true appreciation of the significance of this
index has been rendered possible. The writer therefore feels
that he ought to congratulate himself as being the first, so far
as he can ascertain, to be thus privileged to make an extensive
survey of this index in representative races of man.

THE RANGES O F VARIATION O F THE FACIAL INDEX

The ranges of variation of this index were found to be

remarkably slight, particularly in comparison with those for
346 J O H N CAMERON

the facial height(4) and the facial width(4). It may be noted

from tables 1 and 2 that the ranges for the Eskimo, Mongol,
American Indian, and Scottish crania were less than those
found in the American negro and the Australasian crania.
The relatively small ranges exhibited by the Tasmanian and
Melanesian crania were explainable by the fact that these
two racial groups were represented by very small numbers of
crania (see list in Craniometric Study no. 21). The very
extensive ranges for the native Australian crania, both male
and female, are noteworthy.
TABLE 1
T h e ranges of variation of the facial index in representative racial types.
I n this table the ranges f o r the male crania are alone shown
R a n g e of
Mnzimum Minimum variation
Greenland Eskimo (IJ. S . N. Museum). ........... 60.3 47.6 12.7
Canadian Arctic Expedition Eskimo. . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.8 51.7 9.1
St. Lawrence Island Eskimo (U. S. N. Museum). . . 62.0 49.3 12.7
Mongol (U. S.N. Museum).. ................... 62.5 47.1 15.4
Alaska American Indian (U. S. N. Museum). . . . . . 54.1 45.5 8.6
Arikara American Indian (U. f3. N. Museum). .... 61.6 48.9 12.7
Scottish crania (Turner). ...................... 60.8 46.5 14.3
American negro (U. S. N. Museum). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63.7 46.7 17.0
Australian native ............................. 61.9 41.3 20.6
Tasmanian native ............................. 57.7 44.7 13.0
New Britain Melanesian ....................... 53.3 44.1 9.2

TABLE 2
T h e ranges of variation of the facial index in representative racial types.
I n this table the ranges f o r the female crania are alone shown
R a n g e of
Maximum Minimum tariation
Greenland Eskimo (U. S. N. Museum). . . . . . . . . . . 60.5 47.6 12.9
Canadian Arctic Expedition Eskimo. ............. 59.7 46.8 12.9
St. Lawrence Island Eskimo (LJ. 8. N. Museum) . . 57.6 46.8 10.8
Mongol (U. S. N. Museum). .................... 60.0 47.1 12.9
Alaska American Indian (U. S. N. Museum). ..... 60.0 48.1 11.9
Arikara American Indian (U. S. N. Museum). . . . . 61.9 47.8 14.1
Scottish crania (Turner). ...................... 61.8 48.0 13.8
American negro (U. 8. N. Museum). ............ 55.5 48.9 6.6
Australian native ............................. 62.5 42.9 19.6
Tasmanian native ............................. 57.4 45.2 12.2
New Britain Melanesian. ....................... 52.4 46.7 5.7
 CRANIOMETRIC STUDIES 347

The author deemed it advisable to continue his researches

on the facial index in the other Eskimo groups that were
available, in order to ascertain whether o r not they confirmed
the results he had obtained for the F!skimo crania of the Cana-
dian Arctic Expedition. It was found that the average index
for the Western Eskimo males was given in HrdliEka’s cata-
logue(4) as 54.5, which, it may be noted, was practically the
same as that, namely, 54.6, for the Canadian Arctic Expedition
male Eskimos. The average index for the Greenland Eskimo
males was, however, fractionally lower than these, the actual
figure being 53.6. All were, however, definitely lepto-prosopic.
The average facial indices for the females of all three Eskimo
groups were ascertained t o be remarkably alike, namely, 53.4
for the Western Eskimo, 53.7 for the Canadian Arctic Expedi-
tion Eskimo, and 53.8 for the Greenland Eskimo. With refer-
ence to the question regarding the existence of a sexual factor,
it may be noted from table 3 that, whereas the index was
slightly higher in the males than in the females in the Western
and Canadian Arctic Expedition Eskimos, it was fractionally
higher in the females from the Greenland area. Therefore
the evideiice in support of the existence of a sexual factor
was rather equivocal in these Eskimo groups.
The average facial index f o r the Nongol male crania was,
according to HrdliEka’s catalogue (4),recorded as 54.5, that is
to say, exactly the same as that for the Western Eskimo
males, thus suggesting another example of the close affinity
that exists’ between these two racial groups. The average
index for the female Mongol crania was 53.1, which was com-
parable to those for the female crania of all three Eskimo
groups, though fractionally lower. It may be noted in passing
that the index was lower, on the average, in the female than
in the male Mongol crania.
The facial index for the Arikai-a American Indian was
found to be comparable to those for the other Mongolian
racial types that have just been studied. F o r example, the
average index for the male crania was 53.7, which was practi-
cally the same as that for the Greenland Eskimo males. The
348 J O H N CAMERON

average index for the females proved to be 55.0, which was

thus definitely higher than those for the Eskimo and Mongol
female crania. The average index was found to be remark-
ably low in the Alaska American Indian male crania, the
figure given in HrdliEka’s catalogue(4) being only 50.7. As
this group was represented by only twenty-three crania, it is
possible that this low result does not represent the true aver-
age. This impression was confirmed by the fact that the
average index for the Alaska Indian female crania was listed
in the catalogue as 53.5, which thus conformed to the averages
found in the other Mongolian types.
I n the American negro crania t.he facial index displayed a
slight reduction as compared with the averages for the Scot-
tish and the Mongolian crania. This reduction was displayed
more particularly by the female crania, the average for which
was recorded as 51.9 in HrdliEka’s catalogue(6). The aver-
age for the males, however, was given as 53.2, which was only
fractionally lower than the averages for some of the Mon-
golian racial types, e.g., the Greenland Eskimo and the Ari-
kara American Indian.
The index exhibited a further drop in the native Australian
crania. Thus the average facial index for the males was
found to be 51.2, while that for the females was 52.0. This
reduction was continued still further in the Tasmanian and
Melanesian racial types, the average index for the Tasmanian
males being listed as 49.8. This therefore represented the
first instance in which the average index had sagged below 50.
The average for the Tasmanian female crania was, however,
still over 50, the actual figure being 50.4. The average index
was found to have sunk below 50 in both sexes in the
Melanesian crania, the average for the males being 48.8 and
for the females 49.9. 1.t may now be noted that the average
index for the female crania was fractionally higher than
that for the males in all three Australasian racial types
(table 3).
Duckworth (2) refers to the possible influence of the sexual
factor upon the facial index. He then goes on to quote fig-
 CBANIOMETRIC STUDIES 349

ures furnished by Kollmanii as follows: index for twenty

European males, 54.0, and for two European females, 45.5.
These two female crania that were available to represent the
European type must have possessed exceptionally-in fact,
almost incredibly-low facial indices. F o r instance, Turner
(7) gives 48.0 as the minimum for his series of female Scot-
tish crania. Indeed, an inspection of table 2 will show that
one has to go to the Melanesian, Tasmanian, and Australian
native crania to find such low minima. Apart from this,
it would obviously be unsafe to accept the existence of a sex-
ual factor founded upon the examination of only two female
crania. The present writer was therefore glad to note that
Duckworth, after quoting Kollmann ’s figures, sounded a note
of caution as follows: “the difference has not yet been
worked out on an appropriate niimber of skulls.” Again, it
may be noted from table 3 that in Turner’s Scottish crania
the facial index was actually higher in the females than in
the males.
At this stage a further review of the question regarding the
possible existence of a sex factor would be appropriate. It
may therefore be observed from a survey of table 3 that the
average facial index was lower in the females than in the
males in the Western and Canadian Arctic Expedition
Eskimos, while in the case of the Greenland Eskimo there was
a very slight fractional advantage in favor of the females.
I n the Mongol crania the index was higher in the males than
in the females. On the other hand, it was higher in the
females than in the males in both of the American Indian
tribal groups. The American negro crania displayed a
slightly higher index in the case of the males, while the
Melanesian, Tasmanian, and Sustralian native crania all
exhibited a slight advantage in favor of the females. It is
therefore clear that the evidence in support of the existence
of a sex factor, though somewhat suggestive in the case of
some of the tribal groups, is on the whole rather equivocal.
A further examination of table 3 will show that the present
writer has attempted to utilize the facial index for the pur-
350 J O H N CAMERON

pose of arranging the Hominidae in certain group systems.

F o r instance, it may be noted that the Eskimo, the Mongol,
the american Indian, and the European (Scottish) crania
all exhibited indices ranging between 53 and 55. It was
therefore evident that they were all qualified to constitnte
one group system.
The average indices for the Melanesian, Tasmanian, and
Australian native crania were all in the vicinity of 50, some
being slightly above and others slightly below that figure.
It was therefore evident that they also formed one group
system. The writer accordingly decided to select the term
‘A4ust,ralasiantype’ as representing the most convenient way
of recording the approximate geographic distribution of these
three races.
The American negro appeared to represent a type iiiter-
mediate between the European-Mongolian and the Australa-
sian types of facial index. That explains why he has been
so designated in table 3.
Turner (7) suggested a modification of Kollmann’s classifi-
cation of crania according to their facial indices. Thus he
recommended that crania possessing indices between 50 and
45 should be classed as meso-prosopic, thus reserving the term
chamae-prosopic for those with indices below 45. A glance
at table 3 will demonstrate that this modification is not
justifiable. Thus the lowest average indices that were found
in this research were those exhibited by the Melanesian crania,
both male and female. Even so, they were just under 50, and
therefore far above the upper limit for Turner’s chamae-
prosopic group. It is, of course, essential that one should
deal only with averages of cranial indices, in order to allocate
various racial groups in their correct categories. Among
the many hundreds of crania represented in the present re-
search it may be noted that very few crania presented facial
indices below 45. Therefore the present writer sees no valid
reason for departing from the original plan of classification
as recommended by Kollmann.
 CGANIOMETRIC STUDIES 351

First group: KRZEX ~*'eslfdes

Greenland Eskiiuo (LJ. S. N. Museum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.6 53.8
Canadian ,Qretic Expedition Eskimo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.6 53.7
S t . Lawrence Island Eskimo (U. S. N. Nuseum). . . . . . . . 54.5 53.4
Mongol (U. P.N. Museum). .......................... 54.5 53.1
Alaska American Indian (U. S. N. Museum). . . . . . . . . . . 50.7 53.5
Arikara America11 Indian (U. S. X. Musemu). . . . . . . . . . 53.7 55.0
Scottish crania (Turner) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.3 55.1

Secoud group :
Aiiiericaii iiegro (TJ. S.N. Museuiu .................. 53.2 51.9

Third group :
Australiaii m t i v e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.5 55.0
Tasmaiiiaii native . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49.8 50.4
New Britain Melaiiesian ............................ 48.8 49.9

CONCLUSIONS

1. The writer made a study of the facial index in represen-

tative racial iypes and found that by its means one could
divide modern man into three main groups: A ) The Earo-
pean and 31ongolian type; B) tlie Anstralasian type: C ) an
intermediate type, represented at present by tlie American
iiegro.
2. The only European crania tliat were available to tlie
writer for the study of this index were Turner's Scottish
crania. The Mongolian races were represented by the
Eskimo, the Mongol, and the American Indian. All these
races, both European and hIongoliaii, were found to exhibit
the highest averages for the facial index. Moreover, it was
noted that the average indices for all these racial groups were
remarkably close together, varying between 53 and 55.
3. The Australasian type was represented by the Melane-
sian, the native Tasmanian, and the native Australian. These
three races were fonnd to possess tlie lowest averages for the
facial index. Moreover, it was noted that the average indices
for all three racial groups were also remarkably close
together.

ANEPrlCAN JOURNAL OF I'HTSICAL ANTHBOPOLW:T, TOL. 3111, NO. ?.

352 JOHN CAMERON

4. The intermediate type was so called because it evidently

possessed averages intermediate between those for A and B.
The only material that was available to the writer to repre-
sent this type was the American negro.
5. There is no hard and fast zone of demarcation between
these three racial types, owing to the fact that the facial
index displays fairly wide ranges of variation.
L I T E R A T U R E CITED
JOHN1923 Report of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-1918,
1 CAMERON,
XII.
2 DUCKWORTH, W. L. H. 1904 Morphology and anthropology. Cambridge.
3 Quoted by Duekworth.
4 HRDLICKA, ALES 1924 Catalogue no. 2480, United States National Museum,
Washington.
5 1927 Catalogue no. 2631, Uiiited States National Museum,
Washington.
6 1928 Catalogue no. 2696, United States National Museum,
Washington.
7 TURNER, SIR W. 1903 Craiiiology of the people of Scotland. Trans. Roy.
Soe. Edin., XL, pt. 3.