Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia 39 (1) 2011

Annotation:  Three Scenarios of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition. Scenario 2: The Middle to Upper Paleo Chronology and Periodization of the Neolithic in the Upper and Middle Kama Region Paleolithic Art of the Carpathian-Dniester Region Raw Materials and Paste from Wheel-Thrown Ceramics from the Gnezdovo Burial Ground The Origins of Lead Archaeological Artifacts Using Mass Spectrometry Analysis Kelteminar Arrowheads from the Altai Dagger from the Late Bronze Age Settlement on the Lyuskus River The Archekas Celt and the Issue of the Seima-Turbino Period in the Kuznetsk Basin and in the Achins Bone Anthropomorphic Sculpture from the Ust-Polui Sanctuary Images in Bronze from the Sarovka Ritual Complex: Reconstructing Semantics Information-Theoretical Database Management System in the Context of Monuments Dating to the Pre-Sc Ritual Complexes of the Bolshoye Storozhevoye Fortifi ed Settlement in the Middle Don Area Erlik Khan in the Traditional Worldview of the Khakas Copper Casting in the Daily Life and Ritual Practices of Komi Old Believers Dogs in the Traditional Worldview of the Chuvash People A Proximal Pedal Phalanx of a Paleolithic Hominin from Denisova Cave, Altai Secular Dental Changes in the Populations of the Armenian Highland: Evolutionary and Ecological Asp A Nonmetric Cranial Study of the Andronovo Series from the Altai   

A Nonmetric Cranial Study of the Andronovo Series from the Altai

S.S. Tur.

Nonmetric traits were studied on more than 80 crania from the Middle Bronze Age (Andronovo) burials in the Altai. Two alternative trait batteries were used: that introduced by T. Hanihara and H. Ishida, and that proposed by A.G. Kozintsev. Groups were compared using two multivariate methods, Correspondence Analysis and C.A.B. Smith’s Mean Measure of Divergence. Both trait batteries yielded similar results, attesting to the Southern Caucasoid (Mediterranean) affi nities of the Andronovo population of the Altai. This agrees with the results of dental studies, but disagrees with the results of craniometric analysis. One of the possible explanations is admixture.

Keywords: Nonmetric cranial traits, Bronze Age, Andronovo culture, Altai.