MODERN CRANIOMETRY: HOW 3D SCIENCE HAS ABOLISHED RACIAL TYPOLOGIES

Grigorescu Cătălin Cicerone, Grigorescu Șerban Maxim, Norina Consuela Forna, Tihan Eusebiu Jean

Abstract

Modern craniometry has undergone a profound transformation driven by advances in three-dimensional (3D) analytical methods, population genetics, and critical reassessments of the biological concept of race. Historically, craniometric research relied on linear measurements and typological frameworks that sought to classify human populations into discrete racial categories. Accumulating genetic evidence has demonstrated that human biological variation is predominantly continuous, with greater diversity occurring within populations than between them, undermining the biological validity of racial typologies. In parallel, the development of geometric morphometrics and high-resolution 3D imaging technologies has enabled comprehensive analysis of cranial shape as a complex, multivariate phenotype, independent of predefined categories. These methods reveal extensive overlap in cranial morphology across populations and align closely with clinal patterns of genetic variation shaped by migration, admixture, and local adaptation. The integration of non-racial craniometric models into clinical and biomedical contexts further highlights their relevance, improving individualized assessment while reducing the risk of biological essentialism. By synthesizing anthropological, genetic, and biomedical evidence, this review argues that modern craniometry provides both the empirical tools and conceptual framework necessary for abandoning racial classification. The adoption of a post-racial approach not only enhances scientific accuracy but also addresses longstanding ethical concerns associated with the misuse of cranial data, positioning craniometry as a model discipline for the responsible study of human biological diversity.

DOI : 10.62610/RJOR.2025.4.17.16