Caucasoid
|
Main article: Caucasian race
Skullcauc.gif
Caucasoid describes humans primarily from Europe, the Middle East (Western Asia), North Africa, as well as parts of the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, and was one of the four major races recognized by nineteenth century racial theories.
Craniometry is based solely on skull shapes, and does not take into account other characteristics such as pigmentation or hair texture. This allowed some anthropologists (i.e. Carleton S. Coon) to include large numbers of intermediate groups like Ethiopians (Although their pigmentation and hair texture are Negroid, their skull leans towards a Caucasoid skull) into the Caucasoid Race.
Some studies of mtDNA similarity find Caucasoids to be part of an Northern Eurasian Supercluster.
See also: