Minimum number of individuals
Encyclopedia
In disciplines including forensic anthropology
, bioarchaeology
, osteoarchaeology and zooarchaeology
Minimum number of individuals, or MNI, refers to the fewest possible number of people or animals in a skeletal assemblage. It is used to determine an estimate of how many people or animals are present in a cluster of bones.
The principle of the minimum number of individuals was defined by the North American ethnologist T. E. White in 1953.
The principle of MNI accounts for each possible individual human or animal as an individual unit in the most parsimonious way, meaning to count the least number of individuals in an archaeological site.
While there are formulae that can be applied to determining MNI, it is essentially a logic game. If there were two femur
s, a left and a right, then the MNI=1. If there were two left femurs then the MNI=2. If there are three examples of a right humerus
, then obviously that implies there were at least three individuals. If those all three happen to be male, and there is a clearly female skull
, then that adds one more to the MNI, and so on.
An MNI of three might call into question a grave's designation as a mass grave
, even though it could have more than three individuals. However, an MNI of 10 could strengthen a legal case or provide additional context for archaeological excavation.
For more information on the applications of determining MNI, refer to bioarchaeology
, forensic anthropology
, osteology
, or zooarchaeology
.
Forensic anthropology
Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology and human osteology in a legal setting, most often in criminal cases where the victim's remains are in the advanced stages of decomposition. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification of deceased...
, bioarchaeology
Bioarchaeology
The term bioarchaeology was first coined by British archaeologist Grahame Clark in 1972 as a reference to zooarchaeology, or the study of animal bones from archaeological sites...
, osteoarchaeology and zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology, also known as Archaeozoology, is the study of animal remains from archaeological sites. The remains consist primarily of the hard parts of the body such as bones, teeth, and shells...
Minimum number of individuals, or MNI, refers to the fewest possible number of people or animals in a skeletal assemblage. It is used to determine an estimate of how many people or animals are present in a cluster of bones.
The principle of the minimum number of individuals was defined by the North American ethnologist T. E. White in 1953.
The principle of MNI accounts for each possible individual human or animal as an individual unit in the most parsimonious way, meaning to count the least number of individuals in an archaeological site.
While there are formulae that can be applied to determining MNI, it is essentially a logic game. If there were two femur
Femur
The femur , or thigh bone, is the most proximal bone of the leg in tetrapod vertebrates capable of walking or jumping, such as most land mammals, birds, many reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs. In vertebrates with four legs such as dogs and horses, the femur is found only in...
s, a left and a right, then the MNI=1. If there were two left femurs then the MNI=2. If there are three examples of a right humerus
Humerus
The humerus is a long bone in the arm or forelimb that runs from the shoulder to the elbow....
, then obviously that implies there were at least three individuals. If those all three happen to be male, and there is a clearly female skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
, then that adds one more to the MNI, and so on.
An MNI of three might call into question a grave's designation as a mass grave
Mass grave
A mass grave is a grave containing multiple number of human corpses, which may or may not be identified prior to burial. There is no strict definition of the minimum number of bodies required to constitute a mass grave, although the United Nations defines a mass grave as a burial site which...
, even though it could have more than three individuals. However, an MNI of 10 could strengthen a legal case or provide additional context for archaeological excavation.
For more information on the applications of determining MNI, refer to bioarchaeology
Bioarchaeology
The term bioarchaeology was first coined by British archaeologist Grahame Clark in 1972 as a reference to zooarchaeology, or the study of animal bones from archaeological sites...
, forensic anthropology
Forensic anthropology
Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology and human osteology in a legal setting, most often in criminal cases where the victim's remains are in the advanced stages of decomposition. A forensic anthropologist can assist in the identification of deceased...
, osteology
Osteology
Osteology is the scientific study of bones. A subdiscipline of anatomy, anthropology, and archeology, osteology is a detailed study of the structure of bones, skeletal elements, teeth, morphology, function, disease, pathology, the process of ossification , the resistance and hardness of bones , etc...
, or zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology
Zooarchaeology, also known as Archaeozoology, is the study of animal remains from archaeological sites. The remains consist primarily of the hard parts of the body such as bones, teeth, and shells...
.