Clines of the African face

Africa experiences high levels of migration between different continents and countries. This migration comprises both documented and undocumented people. Undocumented migration creates undue pressure on medico-legal mortuary facilities due to additional challenges that arise in the event of death. Focusing on the African context, this research aimed to determine clinal changes of the African face in regional parts of the continent to support unidentified decedent forensic inquiries. The University of the Witwatersrand Raymond A. Dart Face mask collection was used to sample 551 masks of African descent. Photogrammetric scans of the masks were taken in 3D and craniofacial landmarks placed on the face. To determine geographic differences of the African face, a MANOVA test was used. The clinal variation was tested using discriminant function analysis. For the geographically distant population approximation, a permutation test was used. To illustrate the facial morphology
changes with geography a partial least square test was performed. Tests indicate that the African face of four regions of the continent namely northern, southern, eastern, western, are distinct. A representation of geographically specific facial morphology of African populations is related to clines on the continent. These regional variations in facial morphology could potentially provide critical assistance when pursuing forensic inquiries across the continent.