An anthropometric approach to the study of evolution.

The study of human evolution has always been a major issue in physical anthropology. Since computers became available this study became a new dimension in that it became feasible to apply advanced mathematical multivariate methods which make use of morphometric data. However, looking back on what has been achieved so far with these methods, it must be admitted that the results obtained are often unsatisfactory. This has led to a certain lack of acceptance of these methods. In the present paper it is argued that very useful results may be obtained by applying more sophisticated multivariate methods which are specifically designed for the anthropological problems at issue. Three examples are given. The first deals with the controversy between "Creationism" on the one hand and "Evolutionism" on the other. Our results strongly support the Evolutionists' point of view. The second example deals with the reconstruction of human phylogeny. An investigation is discussed which has led to a startling new hypothesis concerning the evolution of man. The last example concerns a preliminary investigation of trends in human sexual dimorphism. The results obtained so far seem to support the opinion expressed by other workers that tendencies exist in our modern society which lead to changes in the present dimorphism.