Nonmetric Dental Traits of the Mountain Altai Population of Xiongnu-Sarmatian Era

Abstract

The Xiongnu-Sarmatian era (1st century BC – first half of the 5th century AD) on the territory of Mountain Altai is represented by the Bulan-Koba culture. Earlier studies of the anthropological composition of the Mountain Altai population of this period made it possible to reveal the presence of an autochthonous anthropological layer. Also a noticeable increase in the proportion of the Mongoloid component only for the southeastern part of Mountain Altai was noticed. This article presents for the first time data on the dental system features of the Mountain Altai population, which is an independent source. The aim of the work is to analyze the anthropological composition of the population based on the data of odontology and to determine the origins of its genesis. The work is based on the analysis of data from the burial grounds Bosch-tuu I, Bulan-Koby IV, Stepushka 1, 2 and Ayrydash I (Altai Republic) that belong to the belo-bomsky stage (2nd – the first half of the 4th century AD). The series of the Ayrydash I burial ground includes 79 individuals, Bosh-Tuu I – 43 individuals, Bulan-Koba IV – 39 individuals, Stepushka 1, 2 – 23 individuals. The paper discusses 10 key odontoscopic traits. The evaluation of the traits and their further analysis were carried out in accordance with the methodology and technic contained in the works of A. A. Zubov. As a result, it was found that all the series studied belong to the range of populations of the western odontological branch with some increase in the frequency of traits of eastern orientation. In the group of Ayrydash I, taking into account the total number of the series, this eastern “raid” is the most distinct. The genesis of the population of the Mountain Altai of the Xiongnu-Xianbei-Rouran time was complex, as in previous epochs. The data of odontology prove that the “Pazyryks” directly preceding the “Bulan-Kobins” was not the main substrate on the basis of which the new population was composed. Rather, the basis was formed by descendants of the nomadic population of the forest-steppe foothills of the Altai. Dental anthropology data differ from that of craniology in assessing the role of the Pazyryk population's participation in the formation of Bulan-Koba culture. It is possible that an increase in the number of series studied will eventually lead to a convergence of estimates of the two systems.