Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 101. (Budapest 2009)

Hajdu, T.: Anthropological analysis of the Avar Age people from the Jászberény-Disznózug cemetery (Hungary)

Anthropological analysis of the Avar Age people from Hungary 149 RESULTS While we were considering the results we did not forget about the fact that these 77 graves did not represent the whole cemetery. Demographical analysis Bones of 23 males, 30 females, 24 children and juvenile individuals of undeterminable sex were examined in this study (Tables 1 -2). A moderate female excess is shown but this could be influenced by the relatively small number of examined individuals or/and the partial unearthing of the cemetery. The number of subadults is quite low (34.6%). If we execute the correction of newborns (COALE & DEMÉNY 1966) the value we get approaches better the expected value (56.2 %). Average life expectancy at birth was 30.0 years. If we carry out the correction with newborns, this value changes to 20.3 years. The mortality curve of males shows two cusps between 35-40 and 45-50 years old age. The same curve of females shows one high cusp (at cc. 20-25 years) (Fig. 1). This early cusp of females is generally connected to the reproductive period of women, and related to the childbirth and the child-bed fever (ACSÁDI & NEMESKÉRI 1970). Examination of morphological sex The masculinity of males' bones is considerably pronounced. This is mainly reflected on the long bones. The most masculine characters are the head of mandible, the zygomatic surface, the lesser pelvis and the head of femur. The femininity of females' bones is less marked, than the males' masculinity. The effeminacy of postcranial skeleton is more pronounced than the skulls'. The most feminine characters are tuber parietale and tuber frontale, the zygomatic arch, the shape of greater pelvis, the sacrum, and the insertions of posterior surface of femur (linea aspera). Annls hist.-nat. Mus. natn. hung. 101, 2009