Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 95. (Budapest 2003)

Bernert, Zs.: Anthropological analysis of the Avar Period cemetery of Kereki-Homokbánya

Descriptions of individual osteological materials are given in Table 8. Measurements could be taken only on 59 skulls out of those of 113 adults (Table 9). Long bones of the upper limbs were measurable with 58 individuals, those of the lower limbs were suitable for measuring with 56 ones (Table 10). Non-metric characteristics could be observed on 82 skulls (Table 11). Results of pathological examinations We observed the incidence of fractures on long bones. We found three healed fractures of the calvicula (adult man, Grave No. 25, mature man, Grave Nos 72 and 105), and one healed fracture of the radius (mature man, Grave No. 19A). All four fractures were located on the right side skeletal material. The right side collarbones of 34 men were examinable, the frequency of fractures on this bone was 8.8 % with men. The right side radius of 30 individuals was suitable for traumatological observations, and so the fracture of the nasal bone turned out to be 3.3 % among men. Lesions of the medial end of clavicle due to physical efforts were frequent among alterations that could be considered pathological. Alterations of the bone structure brought about by loading of the sternoclavicular joint could be observed on one juvenile man (Grave No. 94), on four adult man (Grave Nos 3, 54, 93, and 129), and on one mature woman (Grave No. 44). In other words one third of the observable man bore this type of lesion, while the ratio of it was significantly lower, under 7%, with women. Physiological exostosis of ligamental and muscular insertion surfaces caused by physical exertion occured mostly on men's skeletons, both on upper and lower limbs. A portion of the cases bore this lesion only on the rightside. The forming of blocks and beaks on dorsal vertebrae was almost universal in the mature age group. A peaceful way of life of the population could be read out of the comparatively low number of traumatic lesions. The high percentage of joint lesions indicated quite unhealthy living conditions. Men did heavy manual labour as indicated by the large number of accumulations of bony tissue on muscular insertion surfaces. The presumption of a hard, yet peaceful way of life tally with the almost complete lack of weapons from the gravegoods, and with the wide chronological spread of gravegoods (KÖLTŐ 1988, 1991). The results of dental pathological examinations have already been presented (SZIKOSSY & BERNÉRT 1996). We managed to conclude that the dental status of the Kereki-Homokbánya population could be declared average when compared to other migration period and medieval series from the Carpathian Basin. Two well-known observations were significantly justifiable. The set of teeth deteriorate with the advance of age. The teeth of women were worse than those of men in the