Nonmetric cranial trait variation and population history of medieval east slavic tribes

Abstract

The population history of the East Slavs is complicated. There are still many unanswered questions relating to the origins and formation of the East Slavic gene pool. The aims of the current study were as follows: (1) to assess the degree of biological affinity in medieval East Slavic tribes and to test the hypothesis that East Slavic peoples have a common origin; (2) to show their genetic connections to the autochthonous populations of the northern part of Eastern Europe (Baltic and Finno-Ugric tribes); and (3) to identify a genetic continuity between the bearers of Chernyakhov culture and medieval Eastern Slavs. In this study, nonmetric cranial trait data for medieval East Slavic tribes and comparative samples from unrelated groups were examined. Analyzes of phenotypic differentiation were based on Nei's standard genetic distance and hierarchical GST statistics. The results obtained suggest that the genetic affinity of the East Slavic tribes is due not only to inter-tribal gene flow, but is, more importantly, a result of their common population history. Evidence of gene flow from the Baltic and Finno-Ugric groups was showed in the gene pool of Eastern Slavs, as was genetic continuity between medieval East Slavic tribes and the populations of the preceding Chernyakhov culture. These findings support a "generalizing" hypothesis of East Slavic origin, in which a Slavic community was formed in some particular ancestral area, and subsequently spread throughout Eastern Europe.

Kinship and morphological similarity in the skeletal remains of individuals with known genealogical data (Bohemia, 19th to 20th centuries): A new methodological approach

“…Cranial traits are more appropriate than postcranial traits for evaluation by the SC, as observed in previous studies (Berry & Berry, ; Hauser & De Stefano, ). This finding has been proven by prior studies (Sjøvold, ; Rösing, ; Spence, ; Velemínský & Dobisíková, ; Carson, ; Movsesian, ). It may be caused by several factors.…”

Nonmetric cranial trait variation and the origins of the Scythians

“…This study is based on nonmetric cranial traits, which have been widely used as phenetic markers to evaluate the genetic relationships among ancient populations (e.g., Berry & Berry, ; Buikstra, ; Dodo, Doi, & Kondo, ; González Jose, Dahinten, & Hernandez, ; Hanihara et al, ; Lahr, ; Movsesian, ; Movsesian, Bakholdina, & Pezhemsky, ; Nikita, Mattingly, & Lahr, ; Ossenberg, ; Ricaut & Waelkens, ; Stefan & Chapman, ; Stojanowski & Schillaci, ; Sutter & Mertz, ). Indirect evidence suggests that observable variations in skull structure are largely determined by genetic factors and that many cranial traits are highly heritable (Carson, ; Rösing, ; Sjøvold, ;Veleminský & Dobisíková, ).…”

A general model for symmetry and asymmetry of nonmetric traits and congenital anomalies and tumors: reviving the proposals sacrificed to false myths

“…This notion was first used by McGrath et al (1984) as already described and still adopted by many authors (e.g. Donlon, 2000;Hallgrímsson et al, 2005;Nikita et al, 2012;Movsesian, 2013;Stojanowski et al, 2018). This is a typical false myth created by habitual use of a baseless approach.…”