Nomads of Early Iron Age of 9th – 7th and 6th – 4th Centuries BC: Comparative Paleopathology Data Analysis

Introduction. The paper reveals comparative analysis results of the anthropological nomads’ series of the Pre-Sauromat and Sauromat times, originating from under-kurgan burials of the Lower Volga region. Methods. The samples were compared regarding pathological abnormalities and stress markers frequencies found on the bone remains. Fourteen individuals’ remains were attributed to 9th – 7th centuries BC nomads. Twenty individuals’ remains were attributed to the Sauromate series of the 6th – early 4th centuries BC. The standard assessment program of palepathological conditions developed on the postcranial skeleton and skull was applied in the course of examination of the anthropological material. Analysis. As a result of the conducted study, it was established that there were no significant differences between the series when comparing frequencies of stress markers and pathological conditions occurrence. The studied groups are close to each other in terms of lifestyle regardless of cultural affiliation. Results. The series of Pre-Sauromat and Sauromat times is characterized by a specific pathological complex, which description is based on the anthropological materials of Early and Middle Bronze Age nomadic pastoralists, Sarmatians and nomads from the Lower Volga region of the late 13th – 14th centuries. The high level of traumatism found in groups testifies to the difficult social and political situation in the southern Russian steppes in the 9th – 4th centuries BC. The pre-Sauromat and Sauromat population recorded cases of unintentional lullaby deformation associated with traditions common in Central and Central Asia nomadic cultures of the 1st millennium BC

Human and Steppe in the Early Iron Age. Results of Interdisciplinary Research

Introduction. Recent archaeological studies deal with the integration of natural science disciplines. Such scientific interaction includes the reconstruction of climatic changes, human adaptation to the changing conditions of nature, study of sociocultural specifics in nomadic groups as well as rising archaeological cultures, with emphasis on the interconnection between the fluctuations of steppe environmental conditions and steppe populations. Analysis. The article presents the results of the carried out interdisciplinary analysis of classic and modern archaeological studies and natural science disciplines. This allows evaluating the specifics of different factors (paleoclimatic, sociocultural, etc.) influencing the “steppe-human” system in a new way. Such factors as registered climatic changes, spreading areas of archaeological cultures, mortuary funeral rites, results of paleoanthropological examination, written records and ethnographic data provide evidence to reconstructing different time-span events of early nomads’ history in one context. The reconstruction of historical reality shows quite strong correlation between the environment and specific features in the development of ancient steppe societies. Human has high adaptive abilities to changing factors. However, the steppe population mode of life is extremely conservative and it has practically never changed during the Sarmatian or Sauromatian history. Climate fluctuations over the steppe area influenced the demographic and social structure of nomadic society. During auspicious periods, nomadic communities became populous and active politically and military. If negative factors dominated, the population tended to decrease and the social structure tended to simplify. Critical indicators of aridization and humidization in Eurasian steppes are followed with the population outflow, which is evidenced by small amount of archaeological sites or even by vanishing of cultures. Results. Thus, the authors conclude that when studying archaeological sites of the Early Iron Age nomadic cultures, it is necessary to consider the steppe and human as a single organism responsive to changing and a strong impact of environmental and socio-cultural factors

Children and Young Adults from the Early Sarmatian Burials of the Lower Volga Region (Paleopathological Perspective)

This paper presents the results of a study of bone remains of impuberal individuals from the Early Sarmatian burial mounds located in the Lower Volga region. When working with bone remains, we analyzed frequency of occurrence of various stress indicators and other abnormalities, taking into account biological age of the individuals buried there. The comparison of paleopathology results with the data from archaeological and ethnographic written sources made it possible to assess some aspects of the life of the early Sarmatian population. Thus, the number of children and adolescents in the early Sarmatian burials corresponds to the established paleodemographic standards proving the normal demographic situation in the paleopopulation. Reconstruction of nutrition patterns allows us to assert that breastfeeding in early Sarmatians was long. Meat and dairy products were the basis of the diet of both older children and adults. In the life of the population, there must have been occasional famine periods, for instance, due to livestock loss. The nomads’ diet was limited to meat and milk products, did not provide proper nutrition and caused numerous diseases such as scurvy and porosis. Paleopathology data demonstrate the spread of helminthiases and various infections in the Sarmatians

Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna on the Skeletal Remains of the Sarmatians of the Lower Volga and the Lower Don (to the Question of Causes of the Endocrine Disorders in the Early Iron Age)

Introduction. The field of paleopathology, which studies the diseases of ancient people, makes important contribution to the reconstruction of the lifestyle and history of the Sarmatian nomads. When examining human bone remains, such a pathological condition as the hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) is sometimes revealed on the frontal bone from the endocranium. Today, most physisians and paleopathologists believe that this condition is the result of the Morgagni-Stewart-Morel syndrome, which stimulates the development of endocrine disorders in the human body. Methods and materials. The research material is represented with the skulls of Sarmatian nomads from the burial grounds of the Lower Volga and the Lower Don. A total of 465 craniums have been examined. The degree of frontal hyperostosis development has been assessed by the method of I. Hershkovitz, et al. Analysis. As a result of the analysis of bone material, 35 cases of the HFI have been recorded on the Sarmatian skulls. Genetic predisposition, specific lifestyle (nomadism), unhealthy and unsystematic diet (high content of proteins and fats, periods of hunger alternated with overeating periods), psycho-emotional disorders typical of the nomads of the early Iron Age were, most likely, the determining factors stimulating the development of endocrine disorders markers. Results. We’ve come to the conclusion that, as opposed to the modern character of the disease spreading, which is more typical for women aged 45-60, this deviation in Sarmatians is more common in men. The analysis of written, ethnographical and archaeological sources, the study of medical and paleopathological literature allows assuming that the HFI in the Sarmatians of the Lower Volga and the Lower Don could develop as a result of the abovementioned factors. E. V. Pererva has carried out the the paleopathological study of materials and the comparison of the obtained results with domestic and foreign works in the field of medicine and anthropology. V. I. Moiseev has interpreted the obtained results in the context of written and archaeological sources

The 4th Century BC Female Burials with Snakes from the Burial Ground at Village Lyatoshinka

Introduction. The article presents the results of the study of two burials of the 4th century BC with snakes from the Lyatoshinka burial ground in the Volgograd Transvolga region. Methods and materials. In the process of investigation, an interdisciplinary approach was used with the inclusion of a typological method, the method of analogies and cross-dating, methods of craniological research (craniometry and cranioscopy), as well as methods for analyzing skulls pathological states. Ethnographic data were used to draw conclusions about semantics. The sources of the study are the paired burials 8 and 10 of kurgan 5 of the Lyatoshinka burial ground and three female skulls. Analysis. As a result of studying the funeral rite and elements of material culture, both burials were linked to the 4th century BC. The analysis of the anthropological material makes it possible to attribute the craniological type of women to the type of ancient Eastern Caucasoids, which is widely represented in the synchronous materials of the Southern Urals and the Lower Volga region. The morphological feature of this skull group is the presence of traces of deliberate fronto-occipital cranial deformation. The pathological state study of the skulls revealed that all the three women had chronic periodontal disease and severe tooth wear. Results and their discussion. The comprehensive analysis of the features of the funeral rite and grave goods, as well as the presence of traces of artificial cranial deformation, which at that time is very rare, suggests the lifetime function of these three women as female clergy

On the Paleopathological Features of the Sarmatian Population of the Lower Volga and the Lower Don Regions in the 4th - 1st Centuries B.C.

The paper is dedicated to the study of paleopathological features of the early Sarmatians. The bone remains which are the material to this research originate from tombs beneath burials mounds from the area of the Lower Volga and the Lower Don regions. The author applied the technique of analysis of bone remains that was introduce into scientific use by A.P. Buzhilova. As a result of the conducted research, the author found out that the early Sarmatians are most likely to have come from the Lower Volga and the Don regions being migrating population which was not uniform in its composition. Some of the Sarmatians, men, in the first place, were overweight and suffered from obesity. The early Sarmatian population in the Lower Volga region and the Don region experienced the periods of prolonged starvation that resulted in chronic diseases which were exacerbated during winters or in dry years. At the same time, the Sarmatians rarely suffered from specific infectious diseases due to the low density of population. War was an integral part of the Sarmatian that was often reflected on skull bones and post-cranial skeleton as war wounds and traumas due to ritual ceremonies