Academic literature on the topic 'Central Craniology'

Material and methods. This article deals with the publication and the comparative analysis of 17–18 century Baturyn male cranial series found during excavations by V. Kovalenko, O. Kovalenko, Yu. Sytyi, V. Mezentsev, V. Skorokhod in 2005–2015 on the territory of the Fortress (the Castle of the Life-Giving Trinity) and in resedimentation. Computer software designed by B. Kozintsev and O. Kozintsev in 1991 has been utilized in the research. 14 craniometric traits defined by R. Martin have been involved into the analysis.The objective of this paper is to introduce a new material into the scientific domain and define the place of the given series among famous anthropological types. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to provide the general description of the male group from Baturyn of 17–18 centuries on the background of neighboring ethnic groups from Ukraine and Eastern Europe (a synchronistic method), determine the distance between separate cranial series of 12–19 centuries with the help of multidimensional canonical and cluster analysis, and to define the place of male population from Baturyn in the system of craniological types of Eastern Europe.Results. For the first time, the general male series from Baturyn town of 17–18 centuries including 74 skulls has been made. After comparison of square divergence of 69 basic traits and indexes of Baturyn male skulls with the standard ones, one can conclude that the researched selection is heterogeneous by its structure. The application of the multidimensional canonical and cluster analysis for the comparison of the studied group of 17–18 centuries with the synchronic series from 11–12 centuries from Eastern, Central and Western Europe has demonstrated the closest similarity of the researched group to town series from Kyiv Podil.Conclusion. According to the average craniometric trait value, the researched male group can be classified as Central Ukrainian anthropological type due to brachycranial braincase, relatively wide face, and big angle of nasal bones protrusion.

The flying squirrels of the tribe Pteromyini (Family Sciuridae) currently include 15 genera of which the genus Biswamoyopterus comprises two recognized species, B.biswasi Saha, 1981 and B.laoensis Sanamxay et al., 2013. These two species were each described from only one specimen that are separated from each other by 1,250 kilometres in southern Asia, where they occur in northeast India and central Lao PDR respectively. In 2017 and 2018, two specimens of Biswamoyopterus were discovered from Mount Gaoligong, west Yunnan province, southwest China (between the type locality of the two recognized species). This study aimed to evaluate the taxonomic status of these two newly acquired specimens of Biswamoyopterus by comparing their morphology with the two described species of the genus. The results of this study showed that the specimens from Yunnan province (China) differed from both B.laoensis and B.biswasi in both pelage colour and craniology, and should be recognised as a distinct species, B.gaoligongensissp. nov., which is formally described here. This study contributes to the understanding of the flying squirrels of southern Asia and identifies an additional species that appears to be endemic to southwest China; however, more research is required to provide details of its ecology, distribution, and conservation status.

The remains of 130 burials from the territory of the destroyed castle church in Uzhhorod were collected and investigated for two years (2018–2019). These are 71 ground burials outside the crypt, one preserved burial inside the crypt, and 58 skulls (or fragments thereof) from demolished crypt burials that are morphologically indistinguishable from preserved outside the crypt burials. That served the reason to combine them into one series. Chronologically, all the anthropological material belongs to the second half of the 14th – 17th century. This article aims to characterize the anthropological structure of people buried in the church on the territory of Uzhhorod Castle, namely the sex-age aspect and features of their craniological type. The article aims to introduce new craniological data into the scientific circulation and identify the main directions of ethnic connections of the studied group from Uzhhorod. The paper’s objective is to determine the distances between individual synchronic and diachronic series with the help of multidimensional canonical and cluster analysis and to find out the place of the Uzhhorod sample in the system of craniological types of Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe (except the Caucasus) and phenogeographical anthropological zones of Ukraine. Computer software designed by B. Kozintsev and O. Kozintsev in 1991 has been used in the research. Fourteen craniometric traits defined by R. Martin have been involved in the analysis. It is established that 118 out of 130 burials belong to adults. It is defined that 86 (72.88%) of them are male, and 32 (27.12%) are female. The average age of death in adults is about 38 years (it varies from 33.5 to 42.5 years). The average age of death of the male part of the sample is about 40 years (within 30–50 years), and of the female part – about 32.5 years (within 25–40 years). For the first time, the male and female series from Uzhhorod was created. In general, 90 skulls (67 male and 23 female) were suitable for craniometry, not counting children’s ones. It has been found out that males and females buried in the church of Uzhhorod Castle belong to the same craniological type. The male sample is moderately brachycranic. On average, it is presented with a wide with a strongly profiled at the level of the orbits and alveolar ridge face belonging to the orthognathic type. The orbits are wide. The nose is medium, and the nasal protrusion angle is moderate. The nasal bridge is high. The female sample is, on average brachycranic. The face is moderately wide with small height, strongly profiled at the level of orbits belonging to the orthognathic type. The orbits have small widths and heights. The nasal bridge is high. The nasal projection angle is very large. According to two anthropological methods (craniometry and cranioscopy), the examined group is mixed, demonstrating certain western, northern, and predominant southern traits. When comparing the male sample group to synchronic and diachronic series and samples from the territory of Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe by the method of multidimensional canonical and cluster analysis, its partial similarity to the Polish sample of the skulls from the Church of Mary Magdalena (Wroclaw), the Volyn series from the village of Ratniv, and to a lesser extent – to the Baltic group of the 14th – 17th century from Martinsala (Latvia) has been determined. The same comparison of the female group has revealed its certain similarity to the Kyiv sample from Podil (Yurkivska Street) according to the results of the multidimensional canonical analysis. According to cranioscopy data, the similarity of the studied group (male and female) to the Lviv and Berestechko series (north-eastern direction of connections) has been revealed at this stage.

В рамках данного исследования впервые с помощью метода геометрической морфометрии была изучена форма лицевого скелета по трехмерным цифровым моделям черепов у представителей средневолжской абашевской культуры, погребенных в Пепкинском кургане. Сравнительным фоном послужили материалы, полученные при обследовании населения эпохи бронзы Кавказского региона, Южной Сибири, Монголии и Китая. Методом главных компонент выявлено сближение морфологического типа мужчин, погребенных в Пепкинском кургане, с южноевропеоидными формами, ранее с помощью традиционной краниологии отнесенных к грацильным представителям средиземноморской расы. Эти результаты согласуются с гипотезой о мигрантных корнях средневолжского абашевского населения и о направлении этих миграций из Центральной Европы, где одним из важных компонентов, сформировавших население эпохи бронзы, были потомки ранних земледельцев. This study was the first attempt to examine the craniofacial form of the skulls of the Middle Volga Abashevo individuals buried in the Pepkino kurgan by the geometric morphometrics method. Cranial collections of the Bronze Age populations from Caucasus, southern Siberia, Mongolia and China were used as a reference dataset. The principal component analysis found more similarities between the morphological type of the males buried in the Pepkino kurgan and the southern Caucasoid forms previously to the gracile representatives of the Mediterranean race based on traditional craniology. Assigned results are in agreement with the hypothesis of origins of the Middle Volga population as well as the direction of such migrations from central Europe where the descendants of early farmers were one of the major components that formed the population of the Bronze Age.

This work is devoted to the study of craniological traits of Australian aborigines (male and female samples) and their geographical differentiation applying a special program of cranial traits. According to the craniological classification (Pestryakov, Grigorieva, 2004), native population of Australia belongs to the Tropid craniotype, i.e. is characterized by a relatively small size and long, narrow and relatively high form of the skull. The primary settlement of the Australian continent could only origin in the North. There are two contrasting craniotypes in Australia, which probably reflect the two main waves of the aboriginal migration across the continent. The skulls of the first migratory wave were larger and relatively low-vaulted. They are mostly characteristic of the aborigines of South Australia, who later also migrated to the north, to the arid zone of Central Australia. The second major wave is characterized by smaller high-vaulted skulls, which are now characteristic of the population of the north of the continent (Queensland and, especially, the Northern Territory and North-West Australia). The territory of the southeast of Australia (Victoria and New South Wales states) is the most favorable area for human living. The two main migratory waves mixed there, which led to the observed craniological heterosis. The craniological samples of western and northwestern Australia are also of mixed origin, but are more comparable to the Northern Territory groups. The Tasmanians are significantly different from the General Australian population in terms of craniology. This is especially true for the female sample. Perhaps the ancestors of the Tasmanians represented the very first settlement wave of the ancient Sahul continent, before the separation of the island from the mainland.

This work is devoted to the study of craniological traits of Australian aborigines (male and female samples) and their geographical differentiation applying a special program of cranial traits. According to the craniological classification (Pestryakov, Grigorieva, 2004), native population of Australia belongs to the Tropid craniotype, i.e. is characterized by a relatively small size and long, narrow and relatively high form of the skull. The primary settlement of the Australian continent could only origin in the North. There are two contrasting craniotypes in Australia, which probably reflect the two main waves of the aboriginal migration across the continent. The skulls of the first migratory wave were larger and relatively low-vaulted. They are mostly characteristic of the aborigines of South Australia, who later also migrated to the north, to the arid zone of Central Australia. The second major wave is characterized by smaller high-vaulted skulls, which are now characteristic of the population of the north of the continent (Queensland and, especially, the Northern Territory and North-West Australia). The territory of the southeast of Australia (Victoria and New South Wales states) is the most favorable area for human living. The two main migratory waves mixed there, which led to the observed craniological heterosis. The craniological samples of western and northwestern Australia are also of mixed origin, but are more comparable to the Northern Territory groups. The Tasmanians are significantly different from the General Australian population in terms of craniology. This is especially true for the female sample. Perhaps the ancestors of the Tasmanians represented the very first settlement wave of the ancient Sahul continent, before the separation of the island from the mainland

Статья посвящена памяти выдающегося советского и российского антрополога Ильи Иосифовича Гохмана. Констатирован широкий круг научных интересов исследователя. В сообщении рассмотрен региональный аспект деятельности ученого. Проанализированы работы И.И. Гохмана по антропологии населения Прибайкалья и Забайкалья. Ученый внес значительный вклад в изучение краниологии эпохи неолита, основываясь на материалах Фофановского могильника из Забайкалья. И.И. Гохман дал полную антропологическую характеристику и историческую интерпретацию краниологических данных по населению культуры плиточных могил бронзового века. Выделяются исследования им населения эпохи хунну, в которых была впервые зафиксирована европеоидная примесь у древнего населения Байкальской Сибири, впоследствии подтвержденная в совместной фундаментальной монографии В.П. Алексеева и И.И. Гохмана. В статье проанализированы работы И.И. Гохмана по антропологическим материалам средневековых могильников Улан-Бор и Усть-Талькин в Прибайкалье. Особое место занимает концепция И.И. Гохмана о формировании центральноазиатской расы в результате метисации байкальской расы с европеоидами. Отдельно упомянута выдающаяся работа И.И. Гохмана «Происхождение центральноазиатской расы в свете новых палеоантропологических материалов». В ней ученым были введены новые краниологические индексы, дан новаторский анализ материала, изложена новая теоретическая концепция. И.И. Гохман ввел в научный оборот новые уникальные краниологические материалы, предложил новые теоретические разработки, в корне изменившие представления об антропологических процессах на территории Прибайкалья и Забайкалья. Работы И.И. Гохмана вызвали плодотворную дискуссию среди специалистов и дали импульс новым исследованиям по антропологии Байкальской Сибири. The article is dedicated to the memory of the outstanding Soviet and Russian anthropologist Ilya Iosifovich Gokhman, who had a wide range of scientific interests. The study examines the regional aspect of his research and analyzes his works on anthropology of population of Baikal and Trans-Baikal regions. Gokhman made a significant contribution to the study of craniology of the Neolithic, based on the materials of the Fofanovo burial site from Trans-Baikal. He made a complete anthropological description and historical interpretation of craniological data on the population of the Bronze Age slab graves culture. His outstanding research on the population of the Hunnu era first revealed the Caucasoid admixture among the ancient population of Baikal Siberia, which was later confirmed in a joint fundamental monography by V.P. Alekseev and I.I. Gokhman. The article also analyzes the work of Gokhman on anthropological materials of the medieval burial sites Ulan-Bor and Ust-Talkin in the Baikal region. Another important finding of the scientist is the concept of formation of the Central Asian race as a result of metisation between the Baikal race and the Caucasians. His remarkable paper “The origin of the Central Asian race in the light of new paleoanthropological data” is separately mentioned. In it, Gokhman introduced new craniological indices, made a comprehensive analysis of the material and presented a new theoretical concept. He introduced new unique craniological materials, proposed new theoretical developments that fundamentally changed ideas about anthropological processes on the territory of Baikal and Trans-Baikal regions. The works of I.I. Gokhman provoked insightful debate among experts and gave impulse to new research on anthropology of Baikal Siberia.

The subject of this study was a poorly readable 66 years old typewritten text. This is a transcript of twenty lectures by the outstanding Russian anthropologist Georgy Debets (1905–1969), a record of his training course “Anthropology of the Peoples of USSR”. In 1954, he taught it at the Department of Anthropology at Moscow State University. Initially G. F. Debets had intended to write a textbook based on this lectures, but he did not fulfill this idea. The characteristics of the training course are given in general terms. The main attention is paid to how G. F. Debets saw the history of anthropological study of the peoples of Russia. At the same time, certain changes were taken into account both in the theory and practice of anthropological studies that have taken place since the early 1950s. The 1st lecture was delivered on September 6th, 1954, the last lecture was dated to the end of December of the same year. The lecture transcripts are mainly 30–40 pages long, with the exception of lectures on the peoples of Kazakhstan and Central Asia, which fit in 50 pages. The first two lectures were devoted to the study of the history of the peoples of the USSR from ancient antiquity to the present, the 3–5th lectures dealt with the methodology of studying the modern and fossil population, meaning racial somatology and craniology. The 6th lecture outlined the principles of the classification of modern human races and described the various existing classifications. Five lectures (7–11th) were devoted to the review of the country's population paleoanthropology from the Paleolithic era until the Middle Ages, inclusive. The next nine lectures covered the anthropology of peoples living in separate geographical areas. G. F. Debets pointed that the course he taught was not about the history of Russian anthropology, so he would not touch on many works of the 19th century. The first lectures outline the stages of development of anthropological research of the peoples of the USSR and state the results of isolated stages, which are reflected unevenly. Both this periodization and the characteristics of the stages do not always coincide with the periodization that was presented in the university textbooks of anthropology that appeared later. For this reason, the transcript of lectures of 1954 is a valuable source both for the history of physical anthropology as a whole and for understanding the scientific views of one of the founders of modern anthropology.