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Anthropology/origin of the aquiline nose

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Question
John,
Is there a known specific racial or ethnic origin of the aquiline/roman/hook nose?

Thanks,
Drew

Answer
Drew
Not really.  Such noses are found mainly in parts of the world where the climate was (or remains) relatively dry and/or cold. As I understand it, high arched noses allow inhaled air to be warmed and moistened more efficiently than less-arched ones.  So, you find such noses pretty much all over western Asia, North Africa, and to a varying extent in drier parts of the New World.  Facial width may also play a role in how prominent such noses are.  Age, too, may be a factor.  Cartilage continues to grow after facial bone has largely stopped growing, so an overall older population will appear to have larger noses than a younger one.
Cheers,
John Shea  

Anthropology

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John Shea

Expertise

Questions about Old World prehistoric archaeology (especially Stone Age) of Europe, Africa, and Western Asia, prehistoric human and hominid behavior, primitive technology, origin of modern humans, extinction of the Neandertals.

Experience


Publications
Journal of Field Archaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science, Lithic Technology, Evolutionary Anthropology, Current Anthropology, Mitekufat HaEven (Journal of the Israel Prehistoric Society), Paléorient, Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, American Anthropologist, Geoarchaeology.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D (Anthropology) Harvard University, 1991.
BA (Archaeology) Boston University, 1982.

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