Anatomical-anthropological study of cranial capacity from prehistoric to recent times at the area of the present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina

Aim: The development of bipedal position anatomically changed the entire skeleton, not only the legs and pelvis, but also the spine, feet and skull.By studying changes in the appearance of the skull and its volume we can monitor changes of brain volume and intelligence development and human evolution. Materials and methods: The research was conducted on a specimen of 196 macerated and degreased skulls, 82 of which belong to the osteological collection of the Department of Archeology – Chair of Prehistory, Antique Period and Middle Ages – of the State Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo. From the osteological collection of the department of Anatomy of the Medical Faculty in Sarajevo, a total of 114 skulls have been examined, 57 of which were skulls of male gender and 57 of female gender. On each of the examined skulls applying craniometrical method we estimated cranial capacity. Results : Regardless of the period in question, we have the highest variability in the category cranial capacity. It is actually a natural sequence due to the impact of all three linear dimensions (length, width and height) of the skull at its formation. Conclusions: Cranial capacity shows a growing tendency going to younger period of time from which the skull encouraged, except for a slight decline during the Middle Ages. Keywords:  skull, cranial capacity, craniometry, prehistoric skull, antic period skull, middle ages skull, recent period skull