Anthropological Composition of the Yamna Culture Population of the North Pontic Region: Intragroup Analysis of the Male Sample

Abstract

The goals of this article are systematization of craniological database, craniometric characteristics and intragroup analysis of the Yamna culture male sample from the North Pontic region. General North Pontic specimens and samples of three local groups (North-West Pontic, Southern Buh and Lower Dnipro regions) were characterized. Intragroup analysis was held in two steps: 1) using principal component method and 2) using two indexes (cranial and upperfacial). According to the results of intragroup analysis the Yamna population of this territory was heterogeneous. Two craniocomplexes can be seen: 1) relatively broad-faced dolichomesocranial and 2) leptene hyperdolichocranial. The second craniocomplex is most visible in the North-West Pontic region. Both are equally represented in materials from Southern Buh and Lower Dnipro regions. There is also a connection between physical characteristics of the individual and the posture, in which he was buried. In majority of the cases, which form relatively broad-faced dolichomesocranial group, supine position was used for burial. While for those, which form leptene hyperdolichocranial group, the position on the side is more typical. These results support and illustrate well the ideas developed by Ukrainian anthropologist S. I. Kruts about the Yamna population of the region. While the broad-faced dolichomesocranial craniocomplex has broad analogies among the populations of the Yamna cultural circle in the Lower Don and Volga-Ural regions, the narrow-faced hyperdolichocranials are not typical for the eastern Yamna territories. Apparently, the second complex determines the uniqueness of the North Pontic steppe population compared to other groups of the Yamna cultural circle. Its origins will be discussed in the next article, which will cover the issue of intergroup analysis.