Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1979, Page 54

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Anthropological and Genetic Studies of the Faroese
Northern — Fugloy, Svínoy, Viðoy, BorSoy, Kunoy and
Kalsoy
Central — Eysturoy, Streymoy, Koltur, Hestur and Nólsoy
Western — Vágar and Mykines
Southern — Sandoy, Skúvoy, Stóra Dímun and SuSuroy.
Rather than assign individuals to a region on the basis of
their own birthplace, which would tend to reflect the popula-
tion movements that have occurred in recent years, the birth
places of their grandparents were considered. Subjects were
assigned to one of the regions if 3 or all 4 of their grandparents
had been born within that region. This procedure accounted
for 74 % of those who took part in the anthropometric sur-
vey. The remaining 40 individuals (with less than 3 grand-
parents born within a single region) were placed in a mixed
origin category. Earlier studies have found a difference in
physical attributes between Northern and Southern Island
groups, for instance Hansen (1912) reported the Northern
Islanders as being taller than the Southern Islanders. However
m the present study no significant differences were found in
anthropometric features between the regional subsamples
(Table 2). The findings indicate that, so far as anthropometric
characteristics are concerned, the Faroese constitute a fairly
homogeneous population.
The Dermatoglyphic Survey
The skin on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet,
the fingers and the toes bears fine ridges the purpose of which
is to increase the frictional resistance of the skin and heighten
tactile sensitivity. The ridges appear on the skin before birth
and form patterns which, barring serious injury, remain un-
changed thoughout life. There are three main pattern types
which occur on the fingers, arches, loops and whorls which
are apparently equal in their function of improving grip. Some
people have the same pattern on all 10 fingers but it is usual
to have a mixture of two or all three types. Examples of arches,