Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 81. (Budapest 1989)

Tóth, T.: Environmental causality in the flatness of splanchnocranium

parative analysis of the Polynesians, Japanese and Europeans inhabiting the Hawaii Islands, the effect of cold climate on the maxillo-malar region of the human cranium cannot be refused. Nevertheless, according to BUNAK (1960,1972; after FORSIUS 1973) the structure of the facial skeleton does not reveal a significant correlation with the climate. These osteomorphic variations are the results of differences in the growth-intensity of the facial bones (BUNAK 1960). Furthermore, from the factors effecting the development of the flatness of the facial skeleton the sensu lato environmental influences cannot be left out of consideration, either (e.g. intrauterine osteopoesis). References were also made to the role of the diet in the development of bone structure (FEREMBACH 1973). Beside the dietary uncertainties, attention has also been paid to the effect of changes in trace elements and mineral intake, in the balance of growthhormone and in the controlling genes (TOBIAS 1970b). Recently the distribution of microelements has been analysed in samples of osteological remains of some historical populations. The data show subcontinental differences concerning the intensity of the absorption of microelements in bone tissues (DOBROVOLSKAYA 1984, 1986) (see BUNAK 1960). This seems to be in agreement with the recent results belonging to the histogenesis of facial skeleton (OYEN & RUSSEL 1982). Thus for anthropological evaluation of the living and prehistoric populations of certain subcontinents we have to take into consideration the different combination of a number of environmental factors having any determinating role in the development of facial flatness. It can be supposed that the different complexes of the environmental factors have been realized in the deviating ecosensitivity of some tribal groups or individuals (e.g. in the adaptive plasticity at the pre- and/or postnatal période of ontogenesis). The recent craniological remains from Kalahari bushmen facilitate significantly further studies concerning the chosen subject. * * * Acknowledgement - Author wishes to express his sincere gratitude to Professors DR. EMIL BREITINGER, DR. HORST SEIDLER and DR. JOHANN SZILVASSY for their allowing him to examine of the facial profil from the Pöch's collection and their consultative advices, and to Mrs DR. MARIA-NICOLA TESCHLER for preparing the material. References ABINDER, N. A. (1960): Transversalnaya uploshchennost litsevogo skeleta. -AntropoL SbornikII Trudue Inst. Etnogr. 50:155-178. ALEXEYEV, V. P. (1978): Paleoantropológia Zemnovo shara i formirovanie tshelovetsheskih rasz. Paleolith. - Moskva: 284 pp. (in Russian, with English summary) ALEXEYEV, V. P. (1979): Gorizontalniy profil i razvitie nosovoi oblasti u mezolititsheskogo i ranneneolititsheskogo naselenia basseina Dunaia (mogilniki Vlasac i Lepenski Vir). - Sov. Etnogr. 2: 40-51. (in Russian, with English summary) ALEXEYEV, V. P. (1981): Horizontal profile and the development of nasal region by Mesolithic and Early Neolithic Population of Danube Valley (Burial Grounds in Vlasac and Lepenski Vir). - Glasnik antropol drustva JugosL 18: 19-31. ALEXEYEV, V. P. (1983): Mezolititsheskiy tsherep iz peshtsherue El Wad. - Quest. Anthrop. 71: 64-71. (in Russian, with English summary) ALEXEYEV, V. P. (1984): K antropologitsheskoy kharakteristike drevnego naselenia, ostavivshego Hasanlu (Iran). - Quest Anthrop. 74: 24-34. (in Russian, with English summary)