The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1983 (10. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1983-06-01 / 6. szám

Page 8

THE EIGHTH HUNGARIAN TRIBE

June, 1983

1. The anthropological build-up of the Nation

Reliable data concerning the anthropological structure of European peoples, can be found in the standard work of the Swiss anthropologist Eugene Pittard (P 103) and in the historical racegeography of the Soviet scientist V. P. Aleksejev (P 002). Information concerning specifically the Hungarians is available in the brief accounts of Mr. Kosonczi (Sorsunk, Australia, 1959-1960), and in the two more recent articles by Pál Lipták (P 090) and Tibor Toth (P 128), leading anthropologists in Hungary to-day.

According to the authorities mentioned, the various peoples of Europe intermingled so much during the last two or three millenia that today they hardly differ from one another genetically. By and large, they are made up almost everywhere with the same racial elements, viz. the white skinned Caucasoids or Aryans;1 the brownish complexioned Mediterraneans or Touranians, also called Kush; and a third element, especially detectable in Scandinavia and in Spain. The latter are probably the descendants of a pre-Neolithic population called Cro-Magnon-men. Within the said relatively uniform social structure, the individuality of each people is only characterized by the differing proportion of the common composing elements. In the case of Hungarians, the specific ratio is said to be c. 80 — 85% Caucasoids or Aryans and c. 15-20% Touranids or Kush. The representation of the Nordic (Cro-Magnon) type in Hungary is so minute that it is practically negligible.2

The great majority of Hungarians (the Caucasoids) is characterized by a height of 167 cm, a clear complexion, variable eye colour (40% fair and 40% dark) and medium brown hair. Their face and eyes are of a vivid tone, their nose is straight, but sometimes high and bridged. Their general demeanour is a friendly one. According to cranial measurements, their average cephalic index (Cl) is 84.3, i.e. they belong to the short-headed racial group.3

E. Pittard was surprised to find, in a strongly mixed Europe, a relatively homogeneous population, especially in Central Europe, which was overrun so many times by foreign invaders since Neolithic times. But he himself gives us the necessary explanation, emphasizing the fact that before

the arrival of the last huge Hungarian ethnic wave in A.D. 895, the numerically most important ethnic body in the country — the Avars — was racially akin to the Magyars: they resembled each othet like “two overflows of a single and same ethnic lake”, to quote the words of E. Pittard.4 His evaluation holds good even for the periods prior to the Avars, including Neolithic times. In fact, the nearly 1,000 extant crania from this age prove that even the earliest settlers of the Land, almost exclusively consisted of short-headed Caucasoids (P 103 p. 36). This means that the same human race has perpetuated itself in Hungary from the earliest historical times in an uninterrupted continuity.

According to anthropologists, the greatest concentration of the shortheaded population is to be found in the Caucasus region.5 The farther one moves away from the area, the thinner is the density of the brachycephalic element. On this basis it was assumed, that the oldest detectable home of this race was in the Caucasus region, whence they got their scientific denomination: Caucasoid race. From their supposed original homeland, the Caucasoids or Aryans are said to have slowly moved southwards, extending their control over the whole northern part of Ancient Near-East

1. We have reverted to the Aryan term, following the practice of many scientists, who prefer it because its meaning is ‘Men’ (Wiro, Vir, Ar, Ur) in most of the European languages

2. The double racial origin of the Hungarians is first mentioned in the Latin language work of the sharp-eyed historian Deseritzky who said: 'Hunnos Magoresque gentem robustissimam et populosissimam partim ex Japhet per Magog, partim ex Cham per Chus tűm verő Nemrothum fuisse propagatam et in unum coaluisse”

3. The head-shape is indicated by the cephalic index (Cl). It is given in percentage ratio (100) with the skull-width (W) and its greatest length (L), from front to back, seen from above the head: CI= 100 x |W:L). When its Cl is 80.00 or more, the cranium is round, short or brachycephalic. When Cl is 75.00 or less, the cranium is long or dolychocephalic. Between these two ranges are the meso-cephalic or medium-headed elements.

4. E. Pittard: «II me semble de plus en plus évident que les invasions avares et magyares, qui apparaissent de beaucoup comme les plus importantes, ne sont que deux détachements sortis cFune mérne masse unique; que deux émissaires issus dun mérne lac ethnique» (P 103 p. 341).

5. E. Pittard noticed the strong concentration of shortheaded Aryans in the Ancient Near-East. He said: “En Asie, par exemple, parmi les peuples divers que Ton a appelés les Aryens, et qui ont laissé le souvenir de grandes civilisations, il y a beaucoup de brachycéphales, d’Aryen brachycéphales”