Directions and dynamics of population processes in Siberia and the Far East during the Neolithic-Bronze and Early Iron Ages: cranial metric evidence

Abstract

The purpose of the study is estimation of direction and dynamics of population processes from Neolithic to historical times on the vast territories of Northern Eurasia including Siberia, Russian Far East and Japanese archipelago. To achieve this cranial metric data on 62 ancient and 40 historical samples were analyzed by means of canonical variate analysis using mean intra-group correlation matrix. The obtained results reveal that in Neolithic three basal group of population can be detected in Siberia and Far East mainland. Basically the interaction of these groups explains morphological population landscape in post-Neolithic times. The first group, represented by the Baraba Neolithic series, is obviously the descendants of the Upper Paleolithic tribes of Western and Central Siberia. The second group is related to Boisman-2 sample from Primorye. The cranial characteristics of this series can be detected in Neolithic from Primorye to Baikal region. The third group is represented by a cranial series from the Diring-Yuryakh burial ground of the Ymyakhtakh culture located in Yakutia (Sаkha). Although this sample is not closely related to other ancient series used in the analyses it contributed to historical ethnic groups adjacent to Tuva and Mongolia. In Western Siberia massive gene flow related to Afanasievo in Eneolithic and especially Andronovo people in Bronze Age is detected. At the end of the Early Iron Age, the western migration vector changed to the eastern one. The results of canonical variate analysis reveal high level of morphological similarity between Baraba Neolithic sample, Jomon, and Epi-jomon. This result needs to be verified by other independent sources including morphologic and genetic studies.