Kovács I. (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 78. (Budapest 1986)

Pap, I.: Some data on the palaeosomatology of 10-12th century Hungarians

ANNALES HISTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONAL1S HUNGARICI Tomus 78. Budapest, 1986 p. 329-337. Some data on the palaeosomatology of 10-12th century Hungarians* by I. PAP, Budapest Abstract — According to the results gained up till now, palaeosomatology can supply important additional information on the hygienic, economic and constitutional conditions of various historical peoples. This paper presents new data of the somatological characteristics of 10-12th century Hungarians. With 5 tables. During the last two decades palaeosomatology took shape as a new method of analysis within the framework of historical anthropology. This approach is based on the Osteometrie examination of postcranial bones. Material and method Examinations were carried out on the material of two cemeteries. Their dating are : the cemetery of Tiszafüred — Nagykenderföldek (Large Hemp fields), 10th century, the cemetery of Szabolcs-Petőfi utca (Petőfi street), 10-12th century. The 11th century series of Tiszalök—Rázompuszta (Rázom farm) (LOTTERHOF 1974) was used for comparison. All three cemeteries are of the so-called common people type from North-Eastern Hungary, more accurately from the Upper Tisza Region. All the bone material is deposited in the Department of Anthropology of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. The cranial series of Szabolcs has already been treated elsewhere (PAP 1981-1982), the processing of the one from Tiszafüred is in progress now (T. TÓTH). Fifty-eight individuals (31 males, 27 females) of the Tiszafüred population and 97 specimens (51 males, 46 females) from Szabolcs supplied postcranial skeletons suitable for analysis. We have data for 41 persons (24 males, 17 females) from Tiszalök. 1 followed the methods of MARTIN (1928) and ALEXEYEV (1966) when determining absolute measurements. Sex and age determinations were made according to the morphological method (FARKAS 1972). The analysis was executed on the basis of humerus, femur and tibia data. I handled both sides separately. I did not use of the asymmetry coefficients developed by DEBETZ (DEBETZ & DURNOVO 1971) which render evaluation of the right and left hand side data possible in a combined form. I calculated robusticity indices as well. I determined stature and body-weight according to the formula of DEBETZ & DURNOVO (1971). Finally I also calculated the so-called quadratic weight-stature index. Calculations were based on the. data of right-hand side long bones. Comparison of long bones The mean values of the full length (Martin 1) of the humerus are higher for both sexes on the right-hand side, with the exception of the Szabolcs men, whose dimensionsare contrary. The Tiszalök males had the shortest upper arms, while those of Szabolcs had *This paper was lectured on the conference of International Demokritos Foundation, in Xanthi (Greece), on the 30th of August, 1985.