Proteomic sex determination vs osteological sex estimation – what effect do our techniques have on the way we view the people of the past?

Amelogenin, a protein involved in the formation of enamel occurs as two isoforms, AMEL X and AMEL Y, which are encoded on the X and Y chromosome respectively. Isoform-specific peptides can be used for the determination of the chromosomal sex in ancient teeth. This strategy was used to determine the chromosomal sex of individuals from tooth material of historic New Zealand cemetery samples by mass spectrometry-based amelogenin peptide analysis. We show what can happen when osteobiographies are constructed for individuals for whom osteological sex estimation was inaccurate. We also highlight the uses of peptide analysis in identifying individuals, particularly non-adults for whom osteological sex estimation is not possible. Peptide analysis of historic New Zealand cemetery samples has helped to change our interpretations and added to our understanding of these populations.