New data on anthropology of Sviyazhsk

Abstract

This paper presents new paleoanthropological materials from the excavations held in the territory of the Dormition monastery of Sviyazhsk, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. The materials belong to a parish necropolis of the last quarter of the 19^th – first quarter 20^th centuries. The paper presents the results of paleodemographic analysis as well as intragroup and intergroup analyses.

According to the studies conducted, the population of Sviyazhsk had a high life expectancy. Namely, the cases of child deaths were few (7.4 per cent) with about 40per cent adults were dying at comparatively old age. These indicators allow us to consider the quality of medical care and living standards of the Sviyazhsk population as high.

Intra-group craniological analysis showed that the population is attributed to low-faced brachicrannic Caucasoid type. The analysis of the second order deviation revealed the heterogeneity of the population related to the paucity and artificial heterogeneity of the sampling. The values of the coefficients of sexual dimorphism are illustrated by several massive female skulls comparing to male ones.

A comparative analysis of male skulls from different necropolis of Sviyazhsk indicated that the same population was burying their dead in the territory of the Dormition during four centuries. According to anthropological characteristics, this population was different from the urban population of Sviyazhsk. Minor differences were recorded during comparative analysis with monastic series. This was caused by the presence of mobility among the urban population, which gradually led to a change of physical type of the inhabitants of Sviyazhsk.

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