Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
1) Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskiy prospekt st., 32a, Moscow, 119334, Russia; 2) Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia
Rasskazova Anna Vladimirovna; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4107-7923; rasskazova.a.v@mail.ru.
Introduction. This article presents the results of a craniological study of the late medieval skull series from the necropolis on the territory of the kremlin in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky. The purpose of this study is to perform a detailed description of craniological features and to identify anthropological correlations of the late medieval population of Pereslavl-Zalessky. Materials and methods. Samples of skulls obtained during the excavations of urban cemeteries in modern Pereslavl-Zalesskiy. The samples under study consist of 34 male and 21 female skulls from a necropolis dating from the 15th to the beginning of the 16th centuries. Sex determination and craniological research were carried out according to standard anthropological methods. Results. The principal component analysis was based on the individual data of three craniological series from the territory of the city. The analysis did not reveal a morphological heterogeneity of the group, but showed a difference between the male sample and the later ones from the territory of the city. The male samples were demonstrated to be significantly different in a number of metric cranial traits. Female samples from Pereslavl did not significantly differ among themselves. The results of intergroup canonical analysis based on 61 craniological series from the territory of Eastern Europe and Finland demonstrate the proximity of the male samples to the Finno-Ugric population and the difference from the Russian groups. The results of analysis demonstrate the proximity of the female samples from Pereslavl to each other. The obtained results revealed general patterns at the intra- and inter-group level. Conclusion. The male sample from Pereslavl-Zalessky of the XV century was demonstrated to be significantly different from the later city population and from all Russian samples. The results of the analysis demonstrated the greatest proximity of the group to the samples of the Finno-Ugric groups. Such similarity may be a consequence of the ancient Finno-Ugric Meryansky morphological component preserved among the inhabitants of Pereslavl. The morphology of female part of the city’s population is significantly more constant. During the XV-XVI centuries, no morphological changes occurred in female groups. The results of intergroup canonical analysis demonstrate the greatest proximity of the female samples from Pereslavl to each other, despite some morphological changes occurred in the first half of the XVII century. Female samples from the city are occupying a central position among of Russian series. A partial replacement of population occurred during the process of anthropological formation of the city in XV-XVIII centuries. Most changes affect male groups.
paleoanthropology; craniology; urban population; Russians; medieval cities
DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2020.3.077-089
Цит.: Rasskazova A.V. Craniological characteristics of the late medieval population of Pereslavl-Zalessky // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2020; 3/2020; с. 77-89
Download text