In the U.S. , the term "Hispanic" includes all persons of Spanish speaking countries. However, in the forensic setting, the use of such an umbrella term is problematic because it ignores the distinct ethnohistories and migration patterns of each geographical region. In a recent geomorphometric study, modern Cubans show a strong African morphological affinity followed by a Spanish component. This is not surprising given the settlement history of Cuba dating back to the Spanish conquest.
Phenogram derived from UPGMA clustering of all groups.
Source: Ann H. Ross, Dennis E. Slice, Douglas H. Ubelaker and
Anthony B. Falsetti
Population Affinities of 19th Century Cuban Crania: Implications for Identification Criteria in South Florida Cuban Americans
J Forensic Sci, Jan. 2004, Vol. 49, No. 1
More surprising, however, is the dissimilarity to Pre-contact (Ciboney) Cubans reflecting a dissimilar ancestry. We can further conclude that modern Cubans have little or no indigenous Amerindian biological affinity unlike modern Mexicans, which have a strong Amerindian biological element.
The results of this study demonstrate that the use of an umbrella term such as "Hispanic" does not afford an adequate biological profile for Cuban Americans or for other Hispanic populations and emphasizes the necessity for investigating regional or geographic morphological variation in "Hispanic" populations and deriving population specific identification criteria.
- Ann H. Ross,
Professor of Anthropology
