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5. Craniological characteristic and intra-group analysis of south necropol’s population of Roman city Viminacium

Craniological characteristic and intra-group analysis of south necropol’s population of Roman city Viminacium

Konopelkin D.S. (1) , Goncharova N.N. (1) , Mikic I.J. (2)

1) Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of biology, Department of anthropology, Leninskie Gory, 1-12, 119991, Moscow, Russia; 2) Institute of archaeology, Knez Mikhailova str., 35/IV, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

Konopelkin Dmitry S., researcher, dmitry.konopelkin@gmail.com; Goncharova Natalia N., PhD, 1455008@gmail.com; Mikic Ilija, PhD, mikicilija82@gmail.com.

Abstract

Introduction. At the turn of the II-III centuries AD Roman empire flourished reaching the peak of its power with territories of the state expanding significantly. New cities attracted flows of migrants causing mixing of various anthropological components. Analysis of the morphological features of the group can tell us about the genesis of these components. The article introduces to the scientific circles cranial data of population of southern Peжine necropolis on the territory of the city of Viminacium. The aim of this paper is to select objectively existing cranial complexes of this population using statistical methods. Materials and methods. Materials used are craniological collection from burials “in situ” dated I-IV centuries AD. The collection is kept in the Museum of Viminacium (Republic of Serbia). The first description of the population’s features was given by Zhivko Mikiс, who has identified seven craniological complexes in the population. The total number of observations is 94 individuals, 66 men and 28 women. Means for 14 measurements and 8 calculated indicators are given. Principal components analysis has been applied to find the intragroup structure. Results and discussion. All types of analysis confirm the heterogeneity and multicomponence of the population of Peжine necropolis. The multivariate statistical analysis allows allocation of at least two craniological complexes, which may be associated with a Mediterranean and (possibly) Dinaric embodiment according to the terminology given by Zivko Mikiс.

Keywords

craniology; Viminacium; anthropological type; Late Antiquity; Roman province

DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2018.2.085-093

Цит.: Konopelkin D.S. , Goncharova N.N. , Mikic I.J. Craniological characteristic and intra-group analysis of south necropol’s population of Roman city Viminacium // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2018; 2/2018; с. 85-93