Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia
2015. N 2

Contents

Anthropology

Berezina N.Ya., Buzhilova A.P. Analysis of traumatic skull injuries based on the materials from some early medieval burial grounds in Eastern Europe (p. 4–23)
Head trauma is one of the important information resources which allow indirect estimation the life environment of ancient populations. The paper presents the results of the analysis and differential diagnosis of various lesions of the skulls of several early medieval groups using modern methodological approaches. Over five hundred skulls of uneven-aged individuals from series of the Saltovo-Mayatskaia archaeological culture and synchronous samples from the territory of North Ossetia were investigated. Sex and age of the buried were determined according to standard anthropological methods. If necessary, photographs and morphological description of the damage were supplemented by microfocus radiography. According to localization, all traumatic injuries were divided into injury of cranial vault and facial part of the skull, which, in turn, was subdivided by the nature of formation on chopped and blunt trauma. Skull with antemortem injuries were found in all four of the studied sites. As expected, male skulls were injured more often. Skulls with chopped injuries were recorded in only two sites: Dmitrievskii and Mayatskii. This altogether with a high percentage of cranial trauma in a series of Dmitrievskii, may indicate the likely aggressive environment. The lowest percentage of injured skulls was observed in the population which left the North Ossetian burial ground Mamisondon. Skulls with chopped injuries in this sample were absent, all identified injuries were healed. However, paying attention to the chronological division of the site, in the later part of the Mamisondon site percentage of skull injuries close to the levels seen in men-defenders of the border Dmitrievskii and Mayatskii fortresses, which helps us to confirm the archaeological and historical data about the period of military invasion into the territory. The presence of symbolic trepanation among the population, that left the Dmitrievskii archaeological complex is not excluded, but most of the superficial damages, previously considered as a symbolic trepanations, we place in the specific group, which can be attributed to blunt force traumas as a result of blow of the battle-flail, commonly used on the territory of distribution of the Saltovo-Mayak culture and its neighboring lands.
Keywords: anthropology, paleopathology, head injury, trepanation, symbolic trepanation, the Saltovo-Mayak culture, the North Caucasus, the Early Middle Ages

Chumakova A.M., Kobyliansky E.D. The variability of some morpho-physiological traits in men of Bedouin populations of South Sinai (p. 24–33)
Bedouin tribes of southern Sinai – nomadic endogamous group, for several centuries living in a homogeneous, stable environment of harsh arid climate, – is a unique model for studying the role of genetic and environmental factors. Purpose – to examine the variability of morpho-physiological traits in the tribes of the South Sinai Bedouins; to identify differences between these genetically isolated populations.
Materials and Methods. Variation of morphological traits studied in 342 men in South Sinai Bedouin 19–38 years, as well as the variation of traits in subtribes of major tribes Gebelia and Museina. Applied methods of multivariate statistics: ANOVA and discriminant analysis.
Results and discussion. Comparison of four tribal groups from 38 morpho-physiological featured revealed significant differences in 27 of them. Significant differences between large tribes Gebelia and Museina found in lengthwise dimensions: the upper body segment length, «upper leg length», upper arm length; biacromial, biiliac and bideltoid breadths, chest breadth and depth, the absolute breadth of the foot (and in % to the length of foot), the hands strength. The result of discriminant analysis was the average 68.1% of correct attribution of a Bedouin tribe. When discrimination carried only in tribes Museina and Gebelia this figure rises to 75. Gebelia tribe characterized somewhat ectomorphic body structure, that is reflected in the ratios of lengthwise and latitudinal size of the trunk, limbs and head. This fact is especially evident in comparison with the parameters of Museina tribe. The structure of the body of the Museina tribe is more massive, limbs are short (as a percentage of body length), minor fat skinfolds, low hands strength. Combined group «small tribes» is characterized by low values of height and weight, of most of the indices characterizing the shape of the body, blood pressure and handhold strength. Differences in subtribes of large tribes Gebelia and Museina recorded at trends. By comparison with the Arab population of North Africa found that the Bedouins of Sinai have somewhat convex thorax, short trunk, as well as longer legs and a much narrower (as a percentage of body length ) pelvis.
Keywords: anthropology, South Sinai Bedouins, the variability of morpho-physiological traits, differences between tribal samples

Zimina S.N., Goncharova N.N., Salivon I.I., Negasheva M.A. Influence of biological and social factors on the level of gender dimorphism in contemporary urban and rural populations (p. 34–44)
The study objective was comparative analysis of variability of the level of gender dimorphism in different somatic systems (proportions of the skeleton, circumferential sizes of the trunk and extremities, subcutaneous fat deposition) under the influence of biosocial factors in contemporary urban and rural populations. The material for the study was data of anthropological examination of more than 5.200 men and woman at the age of 18–25 years old from three regions: Moscow, rural territories of Belorussia and Pridnestrovie. The results of the comparative analysis demonstrate that conditions of living in the megapolis do not influence the level of gender dimorphism in skeleton development and circumferences of the body. At the same time, the degree of gender dimorphism on the value of fat folds in the group of Muscovites is decreased significantly. Taking in consideration the age of examined people, it has been concluded that social factors (specific nutrition habits, hypodynamia etc.) render significant influence on the contemporary generation of young men and women under megapolis conditions along with ecological contamination and pressure of urban stress that cause morphological changes in the form of fading differences between men and women on subcutaneous fat deposition. Based on the results of our work, it is possible to make the following conclusions: variations of the level of gender dimorphism on separate morphological parameters in different regional groups are of similar character; inhabitants of Pridnestrovie demonstrate weaker gender differences on signs of development of the skeleton (proportions of the body), which appears to be stipulated by the influence of geographic and social factors; the minimal level of gender differences has been observed in the group of Muscovites compared with Belarussian rural populations on the value of subcutaneous adipopexis, which can be connected with strong influence of the urban factor.
Keywords: anthropology, urban population, rural population, sex dimorphism, biosocial factor

Romanova P.R., Goncharova N.N., Godina E.Z., Chertoryghin A.B. Goniometric characteristics of posture in schoolboys of two age groups (p. 45–51)
The purpose of this study was a comparative examination of schoolchildren’s posture in 7–8 and 11–12-year-olds and identification of the most informative characteristics of posture in boys of those ages.
Subjects and methods. Boys of two age groups (7–8 and 11–12 years old), students of a Moscow school, were studied in 2014. The total sample size is 96 individuals: 47 from the first age group and 49 from the second one. The program included classical anthropometric and goniometric measurements: angles, characterizing the posture, inclination angle of the neck base, measurements of asymmetry in acromion and iliospinale points, inclination angle of the pelvis in the sagittal plane; as well as the assessment of a child’s somatotype [Shtefko-Ostrovsky, 1929].
Results and discussion. While comparing goniometric characteristics in two age cohorts, it was revealed that the angle of pelvis in the sagittal plane in the group of 7–8-year-old boys was significantly higher than that of 11–12-year-olds. The same trend was typical for an inclination angle of the base of the neck (p <0.05). Thus, pelvis and the neck base form a sharper angle with the support surface in the older children, compared to the younger ones. ANOVA results confirm those obtained earlier with the analysis by age cohorts. It was shown that there was a significant decrease in the inclination angle of the neck by 9° due to age. 
The analysis of changes in the neck angle values in children with different somatotypes shows that children with thoracic and muscular somatotypes have smaller angle and, therefore, they are characterized by a straightened posture.
A trend towards an increase in thoracic kyphosis is revealed in the older age cohort. When analyzing by annual intervals, this trend is confirmed, and differences between 7-year-old and 12-year-old boys are significant. For the boys with different somatotypes, it is shown that the angle of thoracic kyphosis is sharper in boys with asthenic and digestive body types. That may mean that they have a stooping back.
The most informative features for characterizing the posture in boys aged 7–12 years are: chest kyphosis angle and inclination angle of the base of the neck. The angle of thoracic kyphosis shows a steady trend towards a decrease from the younger to the older age group. Also, in the older boys the inclination angle of the base of the neck becomes sharper, which means a more inclined position of the axial skeleton with respect to the support surface, and may indicate a deterioration of the posture.
Keywords: physical anthropology, ergonomics, posture, goniometry, school-age boys

Gorbacheva A.K. The peculiarities of growth processes of infants in different ecological conditions (p. 52–63)
The variability of growth processes of different groups of infants from birth to one year of age is analyzed. 26 ethnic and territorial groups of former USSR of late 1960th – early 1970th, urban cohorts mainly, are reviewed. The source of material is the official methodical handbook, including the data on physical development of children and teenagers from urban and rural regions of USSR. The dynamics of standardized values of body length and mass, head and chest circumferences is compared. The structure of variation of four body dimensions between ethnic groups at birth doesn’t coinside with the same picture at 12 months of age. More or less stable ethnic growth channel for body length and mass is not settled until 6 months of age. For head and chest circumferences, describing proportionality, obviously outside the regarded period. The level of differences of body length and mass between groups increases from birth to 12 months from 1 to 2 standard deviations. The level of differences of head and chest circumferences decreases quite on the contrary. The essential similarity of growth dynamics of Russian infants of different territorial groups with different climatic and geographical circumstances is revealed. Infants, dwelling in emphasized urban environment, Moscow and Murmansk, have most intensive growth increments of body length through the period in the case of Moscow cohort and steady acceleration of body length and mass through the period in the case of Murmansk cohort. Extreme ecological overload of environment in Donetsk region causes the significant retardation of growth of body length and head circumference of Ukraine infants in the region. Somatic peculiarities of ethnic and territorial groups is gradually shaping through the period of infancy. Body length and mass dynamics on one hand and head and chest circumferences dynamics on the other goes geterochronously. Climatic and geographical factors are secondary to ethnic specificity in the process of forming of between group variability. The level of anthropogenic stress has a significant influence on between group variability in infancy.
Keywords: anthropology, auxology, infants, ethnic and territorial groups, physical development, climatic and geographical factors, anthropogenic load

Feofilaktov V.V., Khomyakova I.A., Godina E.Z. Influence of sport selection on morphological status of cross country skiers, winners in their age groups (p. 64–71)
Morphological characteristics of young boys, cross country skiers, winners in their age groups, and non-athletes (schoolboys and students) were studied. The data were collected in 2012–2013. Three groups of young boys were examined: Moscow team cross country skiers (n=29), Moscow schoolboys (n=105), students of Moscow State University (n=58). The program included about 40 anthropometric and anthroposcopic characteristics. Statistical analysis was fulfilled with the software «Statistica 8.0». Main statistical parameters were calculated, standardization procedure was used, one-way ANOVA was performed. There is a tendency towards bigger values of body circumferences, such as chest circumference, arm and forearm circumferences, in parallel with significant decrease of subcutaneous fat on the trunk and extremities, which can be explained by better muscle development. Also the skiers had significantly bigger values of elbow and wrist breadth, which may be connected with the increased strength capacities of a shoulder girdle. It was shown that the level of physical activity and cross country skiing training influence the athletes’ morphological status. The role of selection in sports is also confirmed by variations in morphological characteristics of sportsmen.
Keywords: sports anthropology, elite young cross country skiers, morphological characteristics, sports selection

Yermolaeva S.V., Khayrullin R.M. The comparative analysis of physical development of schoolchildren of rural regions with various ecological and social-economic indicators (p. 72–81)
Introduction. According to statistics, the health of modern Russian schoolchildren has a stable negative trend associated with an increase of the prevalence of chronic diseases, and with decrease of the proportion of healthy children in all age groups. It is also known, that environment and social factors, either alone or in combination, despite the differences in their nature, can be complex and ambiguous effects on physical development (FD) of the body, including and deferred. According to some data the study of the features of risk factors of children and adolescents indicate intensification of social stratification and requires further monitoring of public health.
Objectives. The aim of this study is a comparative analysis of FD of children and adolescents living in rural regions with varying degrees of pollution and with different levels of socio-economic well-being.
Material and methods. For obtain of anthropometric data was used method of cross-sectional of population. 2,457 children of three age groups were explored: younger (6–9 years), medium (10-14 years), and senior (15–18 years). Measurements of total body size (height, weight, chest circumference) were produced by conventional methods. FD level was assessed by body mass index, Quetelet (BMI). Type of FD harmony was determined by centile scale. The exploring was conducted in 6 rural areas of one region which differed by quality of habitat (QH) and by level of socio-economic development (SED).
The results showed that the risk factors of senior children and adolescents are associated mainly with QH, while FD of most young children with the level of SED. When comparing the performance of conjugation FD with QH and SED depending on the sex of the child, it should be recognized that the boys is more sensitive to environmental factors, and girls - to the influence of social factors.
Conclusion. It was found that the influence of environmental factors appears in change the FD of senior children and the influence of social factors in change the FD of young children. Comparative analyses of the factors which may influence on the overall body size indicate that male children are more sensitive to the effects of environmental factors, female children, on the contrary, to the effects of social factors. Thus, environmental and social factors can cause multidirectional and (or) combination effects of influence on the anthropological parameters of children of different age and sex.
Keywords: physical development of children, anthropometric measures, body mass index, environment

Kufterin V.V. Craniometric study on XVIII–XIX cc. AD sample from Central Tajikistan (p. 82–94)
Introduction. The sample is the first data representing close to modern times population of Central Tajikistan. It was obtained during excavations in the construction zone of Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station (110 km to the East from Dushanbe). Cemetery by the opinion of the chief of the expedition Tatyana Filimonova dates back to XVIII–XIX cc. AD. Burial rites in all tombs were Muslim. This study make fills up a «gaps» in our knowledge of craniology of modern population of Central Asia.
Materials and methods. Skulls from 15 burials (7 males and 8 females) were examined. Sex determination was carried out using predominantly the pelvic bones morphology. Age at death of the buried was being estimated using degree of cranial suture closure and dental wear of permanent teeth. The skulls were measured according to the Martin’s craniometrical system. Descriptive statistics calculation and normality test were performed as a first step in statistical analysis of the data. This was followed by intergroup analyses carried out using Cluster analysis, PCA and Canonical Discriminant analysis (CVA).
Results and discussion. The sample as a whole can be described as typical Caucasoids. This applies especially to the female sample. Dolichocranial or mesocranial male skulls remind to some extent representatives of the «Mediterranean» type while female skulls seem to be closer to so-called «Central Asian interfluvial» type. We didn’t find apparent traces of Mongoloid admixture among the studied skulls. Coefficients of sexual dimorphism in some cases exceed «standard2 ones, but small sample size does not allow us to make reliable conclusions about morphological differences between males and females of the sample. To increase sample size we «convert» female values of craniometrc dimensions to «male» ones using average sexual dimorphism coefficients for those dimensions [Alexeev, Debets, 1964] and then pooled both sexes for further analysis. The combined sample was compared with 25 Medieval to Modern Time Central Asian series. CVA demonstrated similarity of the sample to most of craniological series from the central and southern parts of the Central Asian interfluve.
Conclusion. 1. Investigated material shows that people buried on the Rogun cemetery were mostly Caucasoids. 2. Elements typical for “Mediterranean” and for “Central Asian interfluve” anthropological types can distinguish in Rogun cranio-series. 3. Different multivariate statistics for intergroup analysis showed similarity of the sample to synchronous and chronologically earlier samples from the area of Central Asian interfluve as well as with some Early Medieval series (Old Termez, Kahkaha).
Keywords: physical anthropology, craniometry, Central Asia, Tajikistan, population close to modern times

Aksyanova G., Tchizhicova T. Somatic features of the Tatars and Kryashens from the Middle Volga region (p. 95–113)
The purpose of the study – identify the main patterns of morphological structure of men’s body from various local, dialect and religious groups of the Middle Volga Tatar-speaking. Tatars – the most numerous Turkic-speaking indigenous peoples in the Russia (5.3 million people; Census 2010). More than 2 million people, including Kryashens, now lives in the Republic of Tatarstan. Kryashens (35 thousand people.) – Tatar-speaking ethnic group; their traditional religion became Orthodox Christianity, unlike Islam typical for Tatars (Kazan, Mishars, Astrakhan, Siberia, Crimea). Anthropological data on body size of the Volga-Urals Tatars limited materials on child and male population under 30 years of age.
Field study conducted in 2007 in the Trans-Volga area of Tatarstan. 235 rural men aged 17-59 years were measured; the program included 22 features (linear size and girth, fat folds). Kazan Tatars samples were obtained in Elabuga and Arsk district tries (territory Predkamja), Tatars-Mishars in Tchistopol district (Zakamye), samples Kryashens, that due to the small number of mainly analyzed in total, were obtained in Elabuga, Mamadysh and Tchistopol areas.
The increase in overall body size and massiveness expressed clearly in all groups during the last century. The growth of Tatars men has increased on average 5.2 cm, varying now in the range moderately high values – 169.3–172.6 cm. Chest girth is 94.8–97.6 cm, chest index – 68.4–71.9%, the width of the pelvis as a percentage width of the shoulders 71.1–71.4% in the same samples. All groups are characterized mesomorphic body proportions, relatively shortened hands, but the elongate legs, moderately muscled.
Somatic program showed homogeneity Tatar-speaking groups of the republic, their separation from the Bashkirs and Chuvash, convergence in the first place with the Slavic population and the Finnish – Russian and Karelian, who are attracted to compare. Local samples Kryashens close to the adjacent group Muslim population, but they have a more pronounced fat component as part of the body composition. The total sample of Turks Tatarstan is similar to the Turkic groups of the arid zone (Kazakhs, Turkmens, Karakalpaks) according to the distribution somatotypes.
Keywords: physical anthropology, the Volga-Ural Tatars, Kryashens, body size

History and archaeology

Radziun A., Hartanovich M. 18th-century Kunstkamera of the Academy of Sciences in St.Petersburg: at the origins of anthropological knowledge in Russia (p. 114–122)
Kunstkamera of the Academy of Sciences in St.Petersburg is reviewed as research base for Russian and foreign scholars who worked out problems of somatic diversity of mankind. The input of the Great North Expedition (1733–1743) in development of system to describe specific features of peoples is analyzed. System of popularization of knowledge about different peoples at the exposition of the first Russian state-owned museum – Kunstkamera of the Academy of Sciences in the mid-to-late 18th cent., is shown.
Keywords: history of anthropology, anatomy, Kunstkamera, Gerard Friedrich Muller, methodology of complex description of peoples

Tazbash E.A. The Circassian felt masks of masked in ethnographic collections of the Anthropological museum of Moscow State University (p. 123–129)
Article is devoted to the description of the Caucasian felt masks which are stored in the Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology of Lomonosov Moscow State University. The collection of felt masks is collected in 1927 by V.I. Levin – the employee of Institute of anthropology of MSU during complex anthropological expedition in several settlements of the Circassian autonomous area (Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia). It includes subjects which were used in the dramatized representations during an agricultural holiday of a plowed land and a crop at Circassians. The tradition of celebration of this event was very steady: neither adoption of Christianity, nor Islam, the Soviet period, couldn’t make essential changes to life of Circassia’s. The analysis of the masks introduced into scientific circulation was given in the context of the known earlier described Caucasian holidays with participation masked, and allows claiming that these masks were an element of ceremonial transformation during the holiday devoted to the end of a plowed land works. V.I. Levin attaches the description of the holiday, which consists of comments of locals how these felt masks could be used. The comments enclosed by the collector allowed revealing some innovations in carrying out a holiday in comparison with known descriptions of the tradition. For example, we can observe social changes in society – participation of the woman in the organization of public affairs, and also changes in traditional life of ethnos connected with political reorganization in the 20th years of the last century.
Keywords: ethnology, Caucasus, masks, ceremonial practice, masked, traditional holidays

Plohenko B.G. Analysis of dental cement – opportunities and prospects in the study of archaeological sites (illustrated by materials Kamennaya Balka II) (p. 130–135)
This work is devoted to opportunities and prospects of dental cement analysis. In case of faunal remains that are found on archaeological sites, the season of the animal death will correspond to the time of hunting, and the number of the set materials together with archaeological methods will indicate the duration of the existence of the monument. In this paper, we used the results of the analysis of horses, bison and reindeer teeth selected from the faunal collection of the main cultural layer Kamennaya Balka II (date interval 14,557–16,643 y.a, after calibration date – 17,100–17,300 y.a.), originating from the South-Western part of the site, excavated in 1979–1995 (about 60 samples). During the selection special attention was paid to the presence of well-preserved lower part of the tooth, which is necessary to determine the age and season of death. From all samples, only 17 allowed us to obtain some results, with only 9 samples gave the definition of the season.
Also this method allows to estimate the age composition of the hunting which is represented in the faunal remains in the site. This method in combination with other archaeological and natural scientific methods can give accurate and the most complete data and is necessary in the study of sites of different epochs and cultures.
Keywords: archaeology, analysis of dental cement, the Upper Paleolithic, determining season of the animal death

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