Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 85. (Budapest 1993)
Finnegan, M., Tóth, T. , Ferencz, M. , Fóthi, E. ; Pap, I.: Biological distance during the Avar period based on non-metric cranial data
ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI Tomus 85. Budapest, 1993 p. 181-202 Biological distance during the Avar period based on non-metric cranial data by M. FINNEGAN, Manhattan/Kansas, \T. TÓTHL M. FERENCZ, E. FÓTHi & I. PAP, Budapest FINNEGAN, M., TÓTH, T., M. FERENCZ, FÓTHI, E. & PAP, I.: Biological distance during the Avar period based on non-metric cranial data. -Annls hist-nat Mus. nam. hung. 1993, 85:181-201. Abstract - Non-metric analysis of 477 crania from 13 earlier Hungarian populations, dating from the 6th through the 10th centuries, was conducted in order to ascertain the biological separation between the samples studied. It was found that among several samples no significant differences were generated, suggesting that they are simply different samples from a larger population. However, most sample pairs general significant differences showing good biological separation. Further analysis with other samples in Hungary with spatial and temporal comparisons with other methods are warranted. With 10 tables and 6 figures. During the summer of 1990 the opportunity to study a number of Avar populations housed at the Hungarian Natural History Museum in Budapest was met with the taking of cranial non-metric data on 477 crania representing 13 earlier human populations. The purpose of this paper is to present the primary findings of the relationships among the population samples studied at the Museum. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Hungarian Natural History Museum houses the 3rd or 4th largest, well curated collection of cranial material available for study by the scientific community. It is here we decided to study 13 separately named samples, representing various earlier human populations of modern Hungary. This was done in part to elaborate the non-metric traits in these samples, which may later be compared with distance studies based on metric analysis, and at the same time run an internal distance study showing the biological relationships among the primarily Avar populations housed at this museum. Limited demographic considerations for these samples, are summarized in Table 1. In the first sample, 37 male, 35 female and 22 unsexed individuals represent the skeletal materials from the Fészerlakpuszta cemetery. This cemetery is an Avar period cemetery dated to the 8th century and elaborated with metric variables as reported by FÓTHI (1988a). The Tiszafiired-Nagykenderföldek 10th century cemetery sample, as elaborated by PAP (1986), is represented by 28 males, 17 females and one unsexed individual who date to the 10th century (this material is actually of Hungarian Conquest period and is here included to offer some comparison as well as control with a later aged sample). The Homokmégy-Halom cemetery sample, elaborated by LlPTÁK (1957) and by TÓTH (1963,1967), was represented by 24 male, 20 female and 7 unsexed individuals of the Avar period dated to the 8th-9th century. The skeletal sample used from Környe cemetery, documented by TÓTH (1968 and 1971), is represented by 14 male, 8 female and 12 unsexed individuals of the Avar period during the 6th and 7th centuries. Representing a 7th-8th century Avar period population excavated from Alattyán-Tulát and documented by WENGER (1952, 1957), non-metric data were taken on 32 male, 32 female and 6 unsexed individuals. Representing the Üllő I cemetery, studied by LIPTÁK (1955) and TÓTH (1963,1967), 24 male, 23 female and 13 unsexed crania representing an 8th century Avar cemetery were studied. At essentially the same location, a second cemetery, Üllő II, elaborated by LIPTAK (1955, 1983), is represented in our study by 18 male, 23 female and 9 unsexed crania, again from the 8th century Avar period. A slightly earlier 7th century Avar sample was taken from the Tiszavasvári-Petőfi street cemetery (WENGER 1972), which has not been exten-
