Os zygomaticum bipartitum na lobanjama sa srednjovekovnog nalazista manastiriste u Majdanu

Abstract

Os zygomaticum bipartium presents zygomatic bone divided by a horizontal suture into two parts. This rare non metric-trait, with genetic background, is most frequent in East Asians. This paper presents zygomatic division frequency in middle aged sample from archaeological site Manastiriste in Majdan (North Banat). Since there was a lack of sexual dimorphism and there were no significant differences between males and females, the observed sample was divided into three groups according to archaeological context of findings: skulls from graves, skulls from pits or commingled human remains which present earlier, disturbed burial units, and sporadic zygomatic bone findings. The presence of divided zygomatic bones was detected in two adult male individuals - complete and partial division. Overall sample frequency (0,48 %, 3/616) is similar to European sample (Hanihara et al., 1998), but there is a great difference in comparison with east parts of the Old World. Until present os zygomaticum partitum was not documented in Serbia, and regional significance is reflected in the presence of the people of East Asian origin, Mongols and Cumans, who invaded Banat in the Middle Ages.