Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin

Anthropological study of Kyrgyz population of the Pamirs. Part I. Morphological characteristics

Stepanova A.V.

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia

Stepanova Alevtina Vladimirovna, PhD; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6725-5257; alevtina.s.mail@yandex.ru

Abstract

Introduction. The issue is dedicated to study the patterns of variability of the somatic indicators of the Kyrgyz of the Pamirs, depending on the extremeness of living conditions. Materials and methods. Materials for the study were obtained within genetic-anthropological expedition to the Pamirs in 1984. The population of the Kyrgyz in the village of Jirgatal (83 men, 55 women) and the village of Murgab (87 men, 67 women) were studied. Anthropometric survey was carried out using standard method by Bunak. Descriptive statistics were used, the values of Student's t-test were calculated, and mathematical data processing was carried out using the standard package of statistical programs «Statistica 10». Results and discussion. For almost all anthropometric characteristics characterizing the fat, muscular and skeletal systems, a statistically significant (p <0,001) decrease in values is observed in the inhabitants of the highlands, especially in the male groups. Regardless of gender, the leg length does not change with the height of the localization of the population, which indicates the relative "long legs" of the inhabitants of the highlands. Relative "macrobrachia" was noted only in the female group from the highlands. It was shown that the Kyrgyz of the high mountains have a more convex shape of the chest in comparison with the Kyrgyz of the middle altutudes. The analysis of the somatotypic structure revealed a high frequency of occurrence of persons of thoracic and muscular body types, as well as their combinations, in the Kyrgyz of Jirgatal, and a relatively high percentage of occurrence of persons with abdominal, and especially, indetermnate type, in the inhabitants of the highlands. The revealed specific features in the morphological characteristics of the permanent residents of the Pamirs living at different heights above sea level indicate the originality of the pathways of morphological adaptation, mediated by deep energy, metabolic rearrangements, a special complex of physiological and biochemical functions. Our results are consistent with the data of other authors who studied the indigenous population of this region, and the data of the authors who studied other high-mountainous regions and showed a pronounced influence of the altitude factor on the morphological status of mountain residents. Conclusion. It was shown that the degree of extremeness of high-altitude conditions is clearly manifested in the features of anthropometric characteristics. The obtained results expand the database on the features and patterns of morphofunctional adaptation to high altitudes.

Keywords

Kyrgyz of the Pamirs; Jirgatal; Murghab; morphological signs; extreme high altitudes

DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2021.2.035-054

Цит.: Stepanova A.V. Anthropological study of Kyrgyz population of the Pamirs. Part I. Morphological characteristics // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2021; 2/2021; с. 35-54

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