Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera), Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Nab. 3, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia
Zubova Alisa Vladimirovna, Ph.D., ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7981-161X, e-mail: zubova_al@mail.ru
Introduction. The problem of the origin of Mongoloid morphological traits in the Mesolithic and Neolithic populations of Eastern Europe is a key to understanding genesis of human race on its territory. In this issue, there have been discussions about common causes of a shift in European Mesolithic series toward Mongoloid complex, whether this was due to the conservation of the ancient protomorphic component, or cross-breeding with the Mongoloid populations. The next question is about the genesis of specific morphological complexes observed in the considered period. In recent time, most anthropologists recognize the fact of presence of Mesolithic protomorphic component in the population of Europe. However, available cranial data did not allow conclusively determine whether widespread flattening of the facial skeleton in the European series, evidences to the spread of carriers of one craniological type or it convergently retained as part of several types with different origin. The main goal of this work is to determine the extent of heterogeneity of the anthropological composition of Mesolithic populations of Eastern Europe and to identify the key factors of the genesis of the observed combination of «Eastern» dental traits. Materials and Methods. The basic material for the work was provided with dental series from Voloshskoe, Vasilevka-1, 3, Olenij Ostrov, Zvenieki. Olenij Ostrov, Zveynieki. The distribution of shoveling of upper incisors, 6-cusped first molars, distal trigonid crest and deflecting wrinkle in these series was compared. The comparison was done both with a comparative analysis, and with the principal component analysis, performed using the package Statistica 6.0. Results. The distribution of «Eastern» dental traits frequencies in these populations was uneven. In the samples from Voloshskoe and Vasilevka-3 increased frequencies of 6-cusped lower first molars, and absence of other markers was observed. In the North a wider range of traits was represented, but with moderate frequencies. In the Zveynieki sample shoveling, 6-cusped first lower molars and deflecting wrinkle were established. In the Olenij Ostrov a complete set of four markers, including the distal trigonid crest, was observed. Comparison of the observed combination of «Eastern» dental traits with the characteristics of Upper Paleolithic European population allowed us to conclude that the presence in Mesolithic samples of shoveling of upper incisors, deflecting wrinkle and 6-cusped first lower molars was due to preservation of archaic elements in their composition. With regard to the distal trigonid crest, it was absent in European Upper Paleolithic samples. So, in the Mesolithic era it could not be regarded as an archaic trait, but as a marker of migrations from the East. In the compared series, it was found only in the Olenij Ostrov burial grounds. It allows us suggesting a mixed origin of the population from this site. Conclusion. The results of the analysis demonstrate the complexity of processes of race genesis in Europe in the Mesolithic time. In the studied samples, preservation of the heritage of the Upper Paleolithic population was reflected in the frequencies of shoveling, 6-cusped first lower molars and deflecting wrinkle. Polymorphism of the Upper Paleolithic Homo sapiens and isolation of Mesolithic populations led to an uneven representation of these three characteristics in different parts of Europe. Simultaneously, dental evidence gives grounds to confirm the possible impact of migration from the East to Mesolithic population from the Olenij Ostrov burial grounds.
dental non-metrics, Mesolithic, Eastern Europe, undifferentiated combination of anthropological traits
Цит.: Zubova A.V. Dental evidence to the problem of ancient «mongoloid» traits in Eastern Europe Mesolithic population // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2012; 1/2012; с. 44-53
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