A Nyíregyházi Jósa András Múzeum évkönyve 45. (Nyíregyháza, 2003)

Természettudomány - László Szathmáry: A Neolithic Skeleton from Mezőcsát–Csemetekert (NE Hungary)

A Neolithic Skeleton from Mezőcsát-Csemetekert (NE Hungary) The individuals in Cluster C can be identified in similar proportion in the two cultures demonstrated. The latter cluster, however, could be characterised by a broader forehead and a wider mandible. There is no doubt that the Mezőcsát male skull is an atypical representative of ALP Culture. Typical ALP individuals primarily belong to Cluster A due to their larger cranial dimensions. Postcranial Traits The tuberculum conoideum and the tuberosity of the clavicles seem to be expressed. Their proportions also show them to be robust, their measures are: 1 (r) = 144,1 (1) = 152,6 (r) = 37,6 (1) = 39. The humeri are characterised by robust habitus. The supracondyloid process and the perforation are missing. The deltoid tuberosity appears marked. The shape of the coronoid groove is of type 3 by KNUSSMANN 1967's (=KN), the form of the lateral border is also of type KN 3, the medial epicondyle is of type KN-c and the lateral epicondyle is of type KN-3. The cross-section shows Hrdliéka's (=H) variation 4 (STEWART 1952). The measures are as follows: 1 (1) = 314,2 (1) = 309,4 (1) = 65,5 (1) = 24,6 (1) = 23,7(1) = 70,9 (r) = 46,9 (1) = 43,10 (r) = 49 and 10 (1) = 47. The humerus therefore seems eurybrachic and robust, in compliance with its proportions. Of the radii, only the right one can be examined. The tuberosity looks mediocre and the ulnar notch is of type KN-3. The interosseal crest is medium developed. The head seems to be a variant of type KN-1. The measures are: 1=250, l/b=247,

2=239,4=18,5=13. The ulnae are fragmentary and incomplete. The profile of the olecranon is of type KN-1, the trochlear notch is of type KN-3, the head is of type KN-3, the crest appears expressed and the crosssection is an H-4 variant. The left femur available misses the third trochanter. Both the hypotrochanteric line and the hypotrochanteric groove are moderate and the dyaphyseal inclination is mediocre. The cross-section is of type H-R. The head looks proportionate and large. The measures are: 1=441,2=439,3=310,6=33, 7=30,8=97,9=35,10=27. The left femur is metrically middle pilasteric and platymeric. The stature has been reconstructed by applying eight methods (Table 3). The results are as follows: 168CITI(MANOUVRIER 1893), 165 cm (PEARSON 1899), 168CITI(BREITINGER 1938), 171 CITI(STEVENSON 1929), 166cm(TELKKÄ 1950), 172cm(DuPERTUis-HADDEN 1951), 169CITI(TROTTER-GLESER 1952), 166 cm (SJ0VOLD 1990). The stature in ancient populations in the Carpathian basin was last reconstructed by ÉRY 1998, who applied SJOVOLD 1990'S method. The Mezőcsát male with its 166 cm stature does not significantly differ from the average (165 cm) calculated from the 100 Neolithic data. Surprisingly, this observation is similar to the one which was made with the application of a different method (BREITINGER 1938) or on the basis of far fewer skeletal finds (SZATHMÁRY 1978) twenty-five years ago. Regarding the stature of the male from Mezőcsát, it is the length of the forearm that can be deemed characteristic. This is emphasized by the fact that the stature calculated from the radius is the highest according to all of the eight methods. On the grounds of Ery's results, this feature can be considered characteristic of the Neolithic population. With males, higher statures can be determined on the basis of the measures of the upper limb even in the Copper Age. 237