Although cranial and dental nonmetric traits have proven to be reliable proxies for genetic data, the usefulness of infracranial nonmetric traits as phenetic markers in population affinity studies remains unclear. Our aim was to analyze infracranial and cranial nonmetric trait frequencies in the same samples in comparison with genetic data to determine the value of infracranial nonmetric traits in assessing genetic relationships among populations. We examined the frequencies of 25 cranial and 16 infracranial nonmetric traits in seven adult osteological samples from different regions of northern Eurasia (northern Russians, indigenous populations of Volga-Ural region, Buryats, and Yupik) and the data on mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in the same ethnic groups. The biological distance between each pair of samples was estimated using the Smith's mean measure of divergence (MMD) for nonmetric traits and Cavalli-Sforza distance measure for mtDNA data. Mantel correlations were calculated between two matrices of mean measures of divergence (MMD) distances, and a multidimensional scaling (MDS) procedure was applied to each matrix. The Mantel test showed a strong correlation between the two nonmetric distance matrices. The three-dimensional spatial representations of each matrix revealed similar patterns of intergroup differences. On both nonmetric MDS maps, the sample locations roughly reflected the geographic separation of the groups, with the exception of northern Russians, who were grouped with Volga-Ural populations.Comparison of our results with those obtained from genetic data confirmed that both sets of nonmetric traits provide reliable genetic affinities among the samples. The association of northern Russians with the Volga-Ural groups can be explained by their genetic background. Our findings show that infracranial nonmetric traits can be successfully used as phenetic markers to define a population's affinity and divergence, particularly in cases where only infracranial bones are available for study.

Introduction. The history of Tuva’s anthropological study dates back almost a century, and interest in this region never faded to date. In this regard, there is a need to summarize all related research publications, clarify the periodization of stages in the study of Tuvan physical anthropology. Goals. The work primarily aims to summarize all collected data on anthropological appearances of Tuvans and identify problem areas in this topic, as well as prospects for further research. Part One shall introduce a step-by-step history of the study of Tuvan physical anthropology, with due regard of the development of biological anthropology in Russia. Results. The paper provides a detailed analysis of ethnic anthropology results comprising head, face and physique measurements and descriptive data, dental and dermatoglyphic parameters. Data from a number of anthropological systems make it possible to determine the place of Tuvans among Siberian Mongoloids, delineate some local variants within the population of Tuva. Conclusions. Despite there is a most detailed anthropological description of Tuvans, some aspects of their intra-group differentiation remain unresolved — especially taking into account the existing tribal subdivision — just like the case with the formation of Tuvan anthropological appearances during the medieval era and modern times, which sets new vectors for further research of Tuva’s population.

Introduction. Russian-Indian Anthropological expedition was organized in 2019 by Paleoethnology Research Center (Russia), Timiryazev State Museum of Biology (Russia) and Department of Anthropology University of Calcutta (India). The goal was to examine the peoples of Tripura state, North-East India. Data and methods. About 350 individuals from eight different locations next to Agartala were examined. Currently there are 19 tribes in Tripura, Tripuri being one of them. The most common Tripuri’s surname is Debbarma. During the research 254 Debbarmas were examined, among them 106 individuals were children and teenagers (58 male and 48 female), and 148 individuals were older than 17 years (76 male and 72 female). The Russian-Indian Anthropological expedition research consisted of a complex study of Tripuri including morphology of body, head and face, dermatoglyphics, and dental anthropology. Social questionnaire and anthropological photo were also obligatory. All data was hold according to bioethics and the Privacy law. For further examination the data was depersonificated. Results. During the survey, basic information about the individual, including tribal affiliation, was clarified. An extended questionnaire made it possible to study many aspects of social relationships and build a population-genetic network. According to somatometric characteristics, tripuri males from the Debbarma family have an average body length (162.1 cm), relatively broad shoulders and an average pelvic width. A cephalometric study of 19 features was carried out. The studied group can be characterized as brachycephalic, leptoprosopic according to the morphological facial index and mesorrhine according to the nasal index. The zygomatic diameter is large, and the mandibular diameter is above average (on the Indian scale of variability). A detailed fixation of cephaloscopic features in children and adults was carried out, which made it possible to describe tripuri as representatives of a large Asian-American branch (race) of humanity. According to the odontological program, 293 people were examined, 221 of which were tripuri. Anthropological photo-fixation was carried out, and based on these materials the first composite tripuri portraits were compiled, published in this article. Conclusion. In the second season of the Russian-Indian anthropological expedition, data were collected on one of the insufficiently studied peoples of Northeast India – the Tripuri tribe. The group was investigated according to the maximum number of anthropological methods available in the field. For the first time, somatometric, cephalometric and cephaloscopic materials have been obtained and preliminary presented.

Статья посвящена изучению изменчивости дискретно-варьирующих признаков в поволжских популяциях. В качестве теоретической основы были взяты гипотезы о происхождении народов Волго-Уральского региона, сформулированные в результате анализа данных о морфологии зубной системы. Материалом для данной работы послужили 11 остеологических серий близких к современности групп – 7 по народам Поволжья и 4 сравнительных, общей численностью 626 индивидов. Методика исследования включала в себя фиксацию 64 признаков на посткраниальном скелете, 16 из которых были использованы при статистической обработке материала. Эмпирический анализ данных показал значительную вариабельность большинства признаков. При описании их изменчивости удалось обнаружить некоторые тенденции: например, башкирская и бурятская серии часто оказывались в пределах крайних значений частот ряда признаков. Группа мордвы-мокши также обладала особой специфичностью. Две группы удмуртов, как и чувашей, оказались достаточно близки между собой, а русские Старой Ладоги не отличались от поволжских групп. Многомерные статистические анализы позволили уточнить эмпирически сформулированные гипотезы. Полученные результаты по распределению дискретно-варьирующих признаков длинных костей скелета хорошо согласуются с одонтологическими данными. Буряты обладают специфическим комплексом признаков, который крайне далек от комплекса, характерного для поволжских групп. Башкиры оказались отделенными от поволжских популяций не только по одонтологическим данным, но и по частотам неметрических признаков посткраниального скелета. Близость саамов к поволжским сериям также согласуется с данными по морфологии зубной системы. The study of the variability of non-metric traits in Volga region populations is based on the hypotheses about the origin of the peoples of the Volga-Ural region, formulated through the analysis of data on the dental system morphology. The material for this work consists of 11 osteological groups close to modernity – 7 for the Volga region peoples and 4 comparative groups, with a total number of 626 individuals. The research method included recording 64 traits on the postcranial skeleton, 16 of which were used in the statistical analysis. Empirical analysis of the data revealed significant variability of most traits. Some trends could be detected: for example, the Bashkir and Buryat samples often demonstrated extreme values of frequencies of a number of traits. The Mordva-Moksha group was also specific. The Udmurtian samples, as well as the Chuvash groups, were quite close to each other, and the Old Ladoga Russians did not differ from the Volga groups. Multidimensional statistical analyses allowed to refine empirically selected hypotheses. The distribution of non-metric traits of long bones is in good agreement with odontological data. Buryats have a specific complex, which is very far from the one characteristic for the Volga groups. Bashkirs turned out to be an outlying group not only according to odontological data, but also according to the frequency of non-metric traits of the postcranial skeleton. The proximity of the Saam to the Volga samples is also consistent with the data on dental morphology.

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