THE ORIGIN OF THE MEDIEVAL POPULATION OF THE NOVGOROD REPUBLIC) (10TH–13TH CENTURIES): A CRANIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

Important craniometrical changes occurred in the medieval population of northwestern Russia from the 10th to the 15th centuries. Most late populations resemble the Finns. In contrast, the early groups (11th–13th centuries) display affinities with the Balts. The analysis of the geographic distribution of traits indicates that these early groups belonged to a homogeneous medieval cluster that was located on the western border of Eastern Europe and included Baltic tribes of the 1st and 2nd millennia AD, and the early 2nd millennium AD Eastern Slavs from Belorussia, Ukraine, and Moldavia. The probable factor accounting for the craniometrical resemblance between the Baltic and the early Novgorod groups is that both the Balts and the Slavs originated from the Bronze Age people associated with the Battle Axe culture and characterized by markedly Caucasoid features.