Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 80. (Budapest 1988)

Fóthi, E.: Some data on the anthropology of Avar period populations in Southern Transdanubia

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARIC1 Tomus 80. Budapest, 1988 p. 229-252. Some data on the anthropology of Avar period populations in Southern Transdanubia by E. FÓTHI, Budapest E. FÓTHI: Some data on the anthropology of Avar period populations in Southern Transdanubia. — Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung. 1988 88: 229-252. Abstract -— The author carried out facial flatness analysis on the material of two geographically and chronologically neighbouring Avar cemeteries from Southern Transdanubia. These two cemeteries were compared to 18 other series from the Avar period concerning facial flatness index and praeauricular-faciocerebral index. With 8 tables and 10 figures. Material and method Two Avar period cemeteries within a distance of only 2 km were analysed from Somogy County : those of Toponár and Fészerlak. Both cemeteries were brought to light by EUGENIA SZIMONOVA, staff-member of the Archaeological Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, in the 1960s and 1970s. Toponár produced a completely excavated and well-preserved series of 150 graves. S. WENGER published its anthropological analysis but he did not carry out a facial flatness analysis (WENGER 1974). Fészerlak had an incompletely excavated but well-preserved series of 224 graves. In another paper of mine I will publish the complete anthropological analysis of the material of this cemetery uncovered so far. For the evaluation of primary taxonomical characteristics the works of ALEXEVEV & DEBETS (1964) and TÓTH (1958, 1967, 1968, 1969) were utilized. The comparative analysis was based on facial flatness index (IC) calculated by the Debets-Tóth method on the praeauricular-faciocerebral index of Debets (in FARKAS 1972). Remarks on methodology — Though the anthropological classification of types has its own significance, the fundamental theoretical criterion of systematization is related not to the correct separation of the characteristics observed but to the acceptance of racial unity within mankind as a whole and of the biological-social (physical) equality of races. This view is to be taken as a working hypothesis. There is no doubt that when palaeoanthropological findings possess some historical source valae, a relatively correct interpretation of ethnogenetical problems can be achieved not by a restricted analysis of types but by delimitation of races resulting in a wider theoretical horizon and by analysing the ratio of graciai elements (TÓTH 1962). When examining taxonomical characteristics I intended to separate Europoid and Mongoloid components. In the process of diagnosis I took into account the fact that the characteristics bear unequal taxonomical values (TÓTH 1962, 1965, 1967, 1968). The facial flatness index is a good indicator for a given population whether it falls into the Europoid or the Mongoloid great races. The separate analysis of primary taxonomical characteristics is a proper way to evaluate individuals taxonomically. A more accurate image of the cemetery under analysis can be obtained by examining secondary taxonomical characteristics too. ANALYSIS OF FACIAL FLATNESS MEASUREMENTS AND INDICES I. Fészer lak The examination was carried out on 27 male and 23 female skulls. Individual data are given in Tables 1 and 2. The parameters of facial flatness measurements, indices and angles are given in Tables 3. Nasomalar angle (Martin 77) of both sexes is within the boundary characteristic for Europoids according to group average. Among the males I found 4 cases (Graves 2, 122, 140, 154)