Kulcsár Mihály (szerk.): Alba Regia. Annales Musei Stephani Regis - Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei. C. sorozat 43. (Székesfehérvár, 2015)

Tanulmányok/közlemények - Régészet - Piroska Rácz: Avar period anthropological finds from Nagyvenyim-Munkácsy utca - Fűzfa utca

the margin of them osseous formations can be seen. There is furthermore a small osseous outgrowth on the I. metacarpals articular surface from the wrist.

Osteoporosis senilis and compressional fracture of the 4. lumbar vertebra as a consequence. (Figure 1) The vertebrae and the bones are thin and porous. The upper surface of the 4. lumbar vertebra got dented, the middle part of the cortical broke in, the corpus became a concave shape from the side, and slopes ventral. By reason of the age and gender of the individual the senile form of osteoporosis is presumably.

Grave 13: 44 48 years old male.

Spondylitis tuberculosa. (Figure 2-4) On the 4—5. lumbar vertebrae traces of an inflammatory process could be observed, the lesions suggest tuberculosis. There are deep, osteolytic lesions on the lower surface of the 4. and the upper surface of the 5. lumbar vertebra (namely the contacting surfaces). (Figure 2—3) The corpora of the affected vertebrae have mainly destructed; on the other hand there are coral-shaped osteoplastic formation on the ventral surfaces. (Figure 4) The osteolytic processes are predominantly.

Grave 21: 23^-0 years old female.

Block vertebra was formed by the 5. and 6. cervical vertebrae.

Three thoracical vertebrae (from the medial-lower thoracic region) became bony connection as a consequence of a fracture that healed in an abnormal position. (Figure 5)

Grave 25: 37—46 years old female.

Spondylolysis of the 4. lumbar vertebra. Bilateral, symmetrical form.

Grave 28: 20—25 years old male.

Degenerativ arthrosis. Schmorl-nodules could be observed on the corpora of the lumbar vertebrae.

Spina bifida. The 1. cervical and the 1. sacral vertebra is affected.

Also remarkable the occurrence of enamel hypoplasia. The disorder could be observed in four cases from the individuals possessing permanent teeth (Grave 8., 14., 25. and 28.). (Figure 6)

Summary

At Nagyvenyim-Munkácsy utca — Fűzfa utca site skeletal remains of 22 individuals from the Avar period were unearthed. The anthropological finds are badly preserved.

From the 22 individuals the number of non-adults is 2, that of adults is 18, 2 fragmented skeletons are undeterminable but their age can be estimated above 15 years. From the 18 adults there are 8 males, 9 females and 1 undeterminable.

The lengths of the neurocrania regarding their absolute measurements and their indices as well are showing large differences in this small sample. Detailed taxonomical analysis could not be carried out by reason of the fragmented skulls. Only Europid traits could be observed. The long bones of 4 male and 5 female skeletons could be measured. The estimated stature data show a tendency to tall both by the males and females.

From pathological deformities periostitis, degenerative arthrosis, osteoporosis senilis and consequential fracture of a vertebra, spondylitis tuberculosa, fracture, spondylolysis, block vertebra, spina bifida and enamel hypoplasia could be detected.

Despite of its few cases the sample from Nagyvenyim is an important contribution to the Avar period population on Mezőföld, as there is only one anthropological review from this period on Mezőföld by this time, this is Wenger’s report about the sample from Előszállás-Bajcsihegy. According to craniometrical analysis the population of Előszállás is heterogeneous15 and there is a difference between males and females. According to distribution the males’ neurocrania are medium long and long regarding their measures and indices as well, that of females’ tend to brachykrany considering their indices.16 The population is europid, two crania showed to some extent mongolid characters.17 The mean of the stature is medium tall both by males (166,38 cm) and females (154,97 cm).18

15 WENGER 1967, 205.

16 WENGER 1967, 180-183. Instead of the method was used in this report applying the method of Aleksejev-Debec for categorizing the data these tendencies could be observed as well.

'7 WENGER 1967,205.

18 ÉRY 1998, 82., 85. The osteometrical data given in Wenger’s report (1966) were recalculated with Sjovold’s (1990) method to estimate the stature. The exact description of the method see ERY 1998, 13—14.

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