Physical characteristics of the Uyghurs: anthropometric data from Kashgar

Abstract

Before the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the Mediterranean type of the European race had been the main ethnic type of the ancient inhabitants of Kashgar. After moving westward to Xinjiang, the Uyghurs of the North Asian Mongolian race started to have long-term integration with other ethnic groups and gradually formed the Uyghurs. At present, the ethnographic characteristics of Uyghur have been a concern for a while. In this study, 560 subjects (273 males and 287 females) were selected and measured using anthropometric methods in Kashgar, the region most representative of the Uyghurs. The study showed that Uyghur individuals have obvious Eurasian characteristics, with South Asian and North Asian features also being identified in this region. However, East Asian type features were rarer in the Uyghur. According to physical characteristics indexes, Kashgar Uyghur males and females are of medium height and heavier weight; with rounder, taller heads and narrower faces that are mesorrhine; they are also wider in chest and shoulder with relatively long trunks. Males have medium head breadth and leg length whereas females possess narrow head breadth and shorter leg length. Among the 13 ethnic groups in China, Uyghur males were found to have a medium nasal root length and extraocular angle as well as reduced Mongolian fold and concave nose. Meanwhile, it is common for Uyghur females to have a high external eye angle, medium concave nose and dorsal rate, a high round ear lobe rate and low nasal base upturn rate. The Uyghur in southern Xinjiang are closer to the East Asian type than the Uyghur in northern Xinjiang. The head and nose features of Uyghur in southern Xinjiang are more similar to those from Mongolia. In case of facial features, the northern Uyghur and Mongolian are relatively close. There is a high incidence of wrinkles on the upper eyelids presented in Uyghur adults, with some people having Mongolian folds, a higher possibility of outer corners than inner corners, and mostly brown eye color. Together this suggests that Uyghur adults have the basic characteristics of the Mongolian race. Uyghur and East Asian ethnic groups are relatively close in face breadth, head length, morphological facial height and head breadth. Due to the fact that Uyghur individuals have rounder and taller heads accompanied by relatively long upper bodies and short legs, they can be considered to have the basic characteristics of an Oriental population. Both the Asian Oriental ethnic group features and Eurasian population characteristics are found in the Uyghur group in terms of their physical type. Among the various types in East Asia, Uyghur adults are closer to the East Asian type, while having certain characteristics of the South Asian and North Asian type. The physical characteristics of the Uyghur may potentially reflect the historical process of multi-ethnic integration.