Measuring the merit of a sensationalist documentary: A critical assessment of the julcuy “Giant”

AbstractThis commentary evaluates the assertions presented in the documentary seriesCode of the Wild that the skeleton of a 7-ft Mante ño-Huancavilca individual allegedly recovered in the Ecuadorian village of Julcuy serves as evidence that a population of individuals of considerable stature once inhabited the region. Given that an intact femur survived a flood that occurred in Julcuy during the rainy season of 2023, it was possib le to implement the Trotter and Gleser technique to determine the individual's stature with precision. By analyzing the femur of this individual, the commentary demonstrates that the stature of the individual had been grossly overestimated. This commentary reinforces the significance of mathematical formulae devised to determine living stature as opposed to rudimentary field measurements.

Source: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology - March 21, 2024 Category: Science Authors: Nicholas Landol Tags: SHORT REPORT Source Type: research