Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 74. (Budapest 1982)

Tóth, T.: The odontological aspect in the ethnogenesis of Hungarians, II.

different in the studied local groups. The lowest frequency characterized the north-eastern group of the so-called Palócság (Szendrő, 1.1%), whereas the highest one was found in men from the south-western part of the Transdanubian region (Petrikeresztur, 31.9%) (Table 1). Relatively high frequency values were characteristic for one of the local groups from the Middle-Tisza region (Kunmadaras, 31.6%). It deserves special attention that the frequency values of the distal trigonid crest are mostly connected with a low number of cases. Taken as a whole, this odontoscopical phenomenon could be established only on 153 individuals in the studied local groups of Hungarian men (Table 1). It is probably connected with the fact that in more than 2000 individuals of the studied contingent this molar was missing the dentition. This situation indicates an integration of the local groups according to the given ethnogeographical regions. This makes clearer the outlining of a tendency for the taxonomic diagnostical effectiveness of the distal trigonid crest. Evaluating our data in this way the lowest frequency seems to be characteristic also for the north-eastern groups living in the so-called Palócság, whereas the highest one for the groups inhabiting the south-western part of the Transdanubian region (Göcsej) (Table 3). This odontoscopical trait seems to be very rare in the region of Rábaköz as well as in the southern group of the so-called Palócság and among the Matyós. According to earlier findings (ZUBOV, 1973) the frequency of this trait is 5% among Europoids, whereas among Mongoloids its frequency values are usually as high as 28-33%. Nevertheless, among the people of the Indian subcontinent belonging to the south-eastern region of the Europoids area the frequency of this trait established for the Veddo-Australoid groups is higher (Oraons, 46.3%) than among Mongoloids (Table 2). It deserves attention that the frequency values of the distal trigonid crest characterizing Westsiberian Ugors are significantly lower than the values for Hungarians living in Göcsej, Nagykunság, Jászság and Taktaköz. The frequency values found for these ethnogeographical regions seem to be very similar to those which are characteristic not only for East Fins, but for the recent groups of North India (Tables 2, 3). This fact finds a clear expression in the topographical nearness of the studied ethnogeographical groups of Hungarian people to the population contingent of North India (Fig. 1). Representatives of the Mongoloid racial stock are in this respect very far from the groups of Hungarian men. The observation according to which the differential diagnostic value is determined by the absence of whatever functional correlation between the different traits, seems for us to be. of great importance. This could be established by ZUBOV (1973) with respect to the distal trigonid crest and the shovel-shaped upper incisors. For the whole dental system the differential diagnostic significance of these two patterns proved to be very high (ZUBOV 1968 a,b; 1973). Concerning these two odontomorphological patterns the ethnogeographical groups of Hungarian men are very close not only to the East Fins, but to a number of Central-Asiatic and Caucasian groups as well (Table 2, 3; Fig. 1). According to the results of recent investigations, relatively high frequency values (15-40%) have been found not only in the hybrid groups of EuropoMongoloids, but in the southern subcontinental area of.the Europoid racial stock (including Veddo-Australoids). Continental comparisons led ZUBOV (1979) to the conclusion that the distal trigonid crest represents one of the determining components especially that of the southern gracilic odontological type. Supposing the objectivity of the frequency values found in the different groups of Hungarian people, the distal trigonid crest shows clearly — within the scope of the morphological systems—the considerable share of the SouihernEuropoid subcontinent complex in the anthropological composition of Hungarians (Table 3). Acknowledgements — The author wishes to express his appreciation to professors YA. YA. ROGHINSKY and A. A. ZUBOV for their consultative advice about odonto-anthropological problems as well as to the leaders and leading corporations of the counties and villages in the mentioned territories for their administrative help. 23 Természettudományi Múzeum Évkönyve 1982