Within-group differentiation of the Early Iron Age Bolshaya rechka culture population (Novosibirsk Ob river region)

Abstract

In the article the results of the within-group analysis of the Early Iron age Bolshaya rechka culture population from the Novosibirsk Ob river area are presented. The maximum available database of craniological measurements, including individual data published by a number of other researchers was analyzed. Thus, data on individuals from 11 burial grounds, namely Verkh-Suzun-5, Bystrovka-1, -2, -3, «26 iyunya», Milovanovo-2, -3, -8, Novy Sharap-1, -2, Ordynskoye-1 became the basis of the study. The craniometric measurements were carried out in accordance with the standard protocol of V.P. Alekseev and G.F. Debets. Statistical analysis includes methods of univariate (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Shapiro-Wilk, Fisher tests, frequency histograms and box plots) and multivariate (principal components analysis) statistics. Certain level of heterogeneity in the anthropological composition of the studying population of the Novosibirsk Ob region, which was not the result of a recent mixing of Mongoloid and Caucasoid groups, was revealed. Apparently, both the male and female Bolshaya rechka groups were related to the autochthonous Siberian component associated with the ancient population of Altai-Sayan Highlands. In addition, some skulls have a specific combination of metric characteristics. It can result from infrequent contacts with either European populations, or another ancient protomorphic groups. Also, few skulls display another specific combination of traits, which is usually associated with the taiga West Siberian populations.