Osteometric Study of an Early Iron Age Postcranial Sample from Lower Kama Region (Novo-Sasykul Burial Ground)

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2019-48-4/268-285

Abstract

The article outlines results of an osteometric study of a postcranial sample (22 male and 30 female skeletons) from Novo-Sasykul burial ground in the Lower Kama region (Pyany Bor culture). Novo-Sasykul necropolis dates back to between the I and the turn of the II–III cc. AD. In total, the Sasykul population is characterized by a mesomorphic (with a tendency to dolichomorphism) body type proportions and an average or higher than average body length. Results of intragroup analysis allow to conclude that the studied sample was mixed. Results of the intergroup canonical discriminant analysis demonstrate the greatest proximity of the Novo-Sasykul postcranial skeletons to the Mazunino culture samples (Pokrovsky, Dubrovsky and Boyarsky “Arai” burial grounds), as well as to the Pyany Bor culture sample from Stary Chekmak cemetery. The latter thesis does not apply to female skeletons from Stary Chekmak, characterized by a rather “harmonious” ratio of the limb segment lengths and do not show a tendency towards relative lengthening of the tibia. A slight increase in the crural index may be a specific feature of the Pyany Bor and Mazunino culture population groups from the Kama region

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