Articles

Introduction. The following review concerns the research of Eurasian climate history during the last 1500 years.

Materials and methods. The results of paleoclimatological studies published during the last 15 years are examined and compared, including the brief outline of the methods of the reconstruction of past climates employing various proxies, including pollen, tree rings and ice cores.

Results and discussion. The recent reconstructions of the climate of the Europe and Eastern Asia during the most important climatic events of the past millennium – the Medieval Warm Period (10^th–13^th cc.) and the Little Ice Age (15^th–19^th cc.) are described. The influence of the climatic conditions of these time periods on the lives and economic activities of the human populations in Europe and China.

Conclusion. The comparison of the reconstructions originating from the various regions of Eurasia demonstrates the global extent of the warm and cold periods and the existence of the connections between perennial meteorological events in Europe and Asia. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. This article presents a comparative analysis of the bone remains from two parts of the necropolis at the Church of Corpus Christi in Nesvizh, Belarus. The remains were extracted from the crypt of the church (17th centuries) and the adjacent cemetery (18th centuries) between 2017 and 2019.

Materials and methods. Two series - 1) of material from the cemetery (skeletons of various configurations and individual bones) and 2) material from the crypt (scattered bones) were subjected to comparative analysis. The minimum number of individuals is determined by the largest number of bones of the same type: cemetery n=65; crypt n=98. The measurements were taken using the standard osteometric method. The reliability of the differences between the two groups was checked using the Student's t-test and visualized using a petal diagram. Additionally, there were signs of fractures and weapon damage on the bones. The percentage of damage was calculated as the percentage of total bones of the same type with damage.

Results and discussion. The size of most of the male bones from the crypt was significantly larger than that of the bones from the cemetery, as evidenced by the size of the hilt of the sternum, collarbones, shoulder blades and the proximal epiphysis of the humerus. This set of features indicates a large shoulder width in the skeletal remains from the crypt. This may be due to the high functional load on the bones of the upper extremities. The longitudinal dimensions of the proximal sections of the humerus and femur in the series from the crypt are also larger. This may indicate that the individuals buried in the crypt were taller.

Most of the transverse dimensions of the upper limb bones in the series from the crypt are larger than in the series from the cemetery, while the femoral bones in the series from the cemetery are larger. This may indicate different functional requirements for these parts of the skeleton. The number of traumatic injuries on the bones from the crypt is significantly lower than in the series from the cemetery.

Conclusion. According to the results of the study, representatives of different population groups are buried in two parts of the necropolis at the Church of the Body of God in Nesvizh. It is possible that representatives of the clergy from the Jesuit Order were reburied in the crypt, while representatives of the nobility from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were mostly buried in the cemetery. This is confirmed by historical documents and archaeological finds. On the other hand, differences in physical development and the frequency of traumatic injuries can be explained by changes in knight's armor in the 16th and 17th centuries, which requires further study. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. Studying ancient pathologies is a significant direction in modern scientific discourse, requiring the application of differential diagnostic methods for accurate data interpretation. Despite the complexity of such analyses, the data obtained enable us to gather reliable historical information about both past populations and individuals. This study presents an analysis of pathologies in an individual from the Vologda necropolis.

Objective of the Study: Conduct a differential diagnosis of disease in an 11–12-year-old adolescent from the Vologda necropolis of the second half of the 15th to the first half of the 16th centuries.

Materials and Methods. The individual studied was found during excavations in Vologda (Leningradskaya St., No. 12). The remains belonged to an adolescent aged 11-12 years. The study included a macroscopic assessment comprising visual inspection, determination of skeletal preservation and completeness, photographic documentation of the remains, and radiographic analysis of the affected bones.

Results. The remains exhibited lesions in the iliac and ischial bones, ribs, vertebrae, skull bones, and scapulae. Manifestations were observed in bones with a significant proportion of cancellous tissue. Pathological changes were characterized by a combination of proliferative and destructive alterations. Radiographic analysis of the skull revealed a decrease in bone X-ray density, manifested as increased porosity. An area with decreased X-ray density resembling a 'cold abscess' was also identified in the iliac bones. However, distinct boundaries, which are a key feature of this pathological condition, are absent.

Discussion. Among the most likely alternative diagnoses are brucellosis, tuberculosis infection, and malignant processes. These diseases are integrated into the differential diagnosis due to the combination of proliferative and destructive changes observed in the bone tissue.

Conclusion. The analysis of diagnostic criteria and radiographic data suggests the presence of an oncological process. However, signs of periostitis on the ribs and evidence of meningitis on the endocranial surface may indicate chronic inflammation caused by infection. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. Hyperostosis frontalis interna (HFI) is a thickening of the frontal bone associated with metabolic and hormonal disorders. While prevalent among elderly women in modern populations, archaeological studies have documented male-dominated HFI cases in certain groups. This study examines the frequency of HFI in Mesolithic/Neolithic craniological series fr om the Dnieper region.

Materials and methods. Eight craniological series (107 skulls) from the collections of the Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, were analyzed. The overall prevalence of HFI and its developmental stages (4-point scale) were assessed.

Results and discussion. A high HFI frequency (20.6%) was identified in Mesolithic/Neolithic groups of the Dnieper region, suggesting a link to chronic metabolic stress during transitional periods. Notably, HFI types A, B, and C were equally represented (1:1:1 ratio), contrasting with typical patterns wh ere type A dominates. Elevated frequencies of types B and C likely indicate metabolic/hormonal imbalances. Although no statistically significant sex or age differences were observed, a trend of increased HFI prevalence in older individuals aligns with prior research. Associations with periodontitis, trauma, and cribra orbitalia point to environmental stress influences.

Conclusion. The identified HFI cases represent the earliest known instances in prehistoric Eastern Europe. Results underscore HFI’s role as a stress marker in transitional historical periods. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. The study of the population living on both banks of the Kuban river in the period before the invasion of the Golden Horde and after its retreat has a long tradition. Knowing from historical sources about the existence of such tribal formations as the Zikhs, Kasogs, Adyghes, etc., who inhabited the territory of the Northern Black Sea region and the Ciscaucasia in the Middle Ages, modern researchers still cannot separate the representatives of these tribes either by the features of their funeral rites or by their morphological appearance. Studied in 2024 the burial ground “Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka Vostochnoye” gave us the extensive archaeological and paleoanthropic data that shed light on the economy of the North-Eastern Black Sea region in the 11^th–13^th centuries. The main goal of this study was to describe the paleodemographic indicators of medieval Circassians who were buried at the burial ground of “Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka Vostochnoye”, located near the city of Novorossiysk in the Krasnodar Region.

Materials and Methods. During the initial processing of the collection, we determined the sex and age of 71 buried individuals, which were used as the materials for this study. We used classical methods of modern paleoanthropology to study the skeletons. The analysis of paleodemographic indicators was carried out using the method recently suggested by D.V. Pezhemsky.

Results and discussion. The analysis revealed an almost complete absence of children under 1-year-old and a violation of the sex ratio. In the studied sample, there were 1.5 times more men than women. Most men died at the age of 45–55, while the majority of women died in their reproductive years. Only 7% of the population survived the age of 55. Comparing the discussed sample with the population of the 13^th–14^th centuries and the series of Adyghe-Natukhaevtsy of the 19th century, significant differences in demographic indicators were noted for all series involved in the analysis.

Conclusion. An important conclusion of the work can be considered the revealed special burial rituals of children under 1 year old, common to medieval Circassians and, apparently, preserved even after the adoption of Islam by the Adyghe. High average values of life expectancy of the adult part of the population, which amounted to 41.3 years, do not agree with the high infant and adolescent mortality. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Introduction. The dopaminergic system of the brain plays an important role in the formation of eating and other aspects of behavior. It has been shown that disturbances in dopamine neurotransmission are associated with both eating behavior and the formation of excess body weight and obesity. VNTR polymorphism in exon III of the dopamine receptor DRD4 gene presumably affects eating behavior through environmental perception, but studies on this topic are few. This study was conducted due to the lack of information on the association of DRD4 gene polymorphism with excess body weight.

Materials and methods. The work used the materials of a comprehensive anthropogenetic examination of 309 males and 298 females aged 17 to 30 years. Morphological parameters were measured using traditional anthropometric methods. Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) were used to determine the level of depression and aggression, respectively. Genomic DNA isolated from the buccal epithelium served as the material for the genetic analysis. The reliability of intergroup differences was assessed using the Mann-Whitney criterion.

Results and discussion. In this study, some differences in morphological characteristics were found in carriers of different genotypes of the DRD4 exon III locus. Carriers of the 4- genotype (females who do not have the allele with four repeats) are somewhat larger in build, they have higher values for body length and weight, as well as hip circumference, than carriers of the 4+ genotype (p<0.05). For males, no statistically significant differences in morphological characteristics were found between carriers of different genotypes. The results of the study showed that males with the 4+ genotype have comparatively higher scores on the physical aggression and hostility scales (p<0.05), as well as on the anger scale (p>0.05; tendency).

Conclusion. The obtained data suggest further study of the influence of VNTR polymorphism of the dopamine receptor DRD4 gene on the formation of food preferences and the tendency to excess fat deposition, together with a detailed study of the socio-economic status of individuals. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. The body's ability to absorb vitamin D is determined, among other factors, by the activity of the vitamin D cellular receptor, which is encoded by the VDR gene. We considered intergroup differences in the carriage of VDR polymorphisms as the results of selection aimed at reducing the population frequencies of maladaptive variants. According to the literature, alleles A*TaqI (rs731236), G*BsmI (rs1544410), C*ApaI (rs7975232), and A*FokI (rs2228570) are identified as conditionally "risky" alleles associated with a decrease in bone mineral density and the development of osteoporosis. We hypothesized that the formation of the population specificity of VDR frequencies could be influenced by the traditional nutrition of the group, which was determined by belonging to the type of traditional economy (TTE).

Purpose of the study: to compare the frequencies of the A*TaqI, G*BsmI, C*ApaI, and A*FokI alleles of the VDR gene in indigenous groups with historically established economy systems oriented to the predominant use of products of agriculture, animal husbandry, or hunting in combination with fishing.

Materials and methods. Population VDR polymorphism was studied using 3463 DNA samples from 76 populations of indigenous Europeoid and Mongoloid populations of Eurasia. The populations were grouped into three categories based on their subsistence economy: "agriculturalists" (n = 49), "herders" (n = 13) and "hunters" (n = 14).

Results. The agricultural category contains both Mongoloid and Europeoid groups. The Mongoloid groups showed higher carriage of A*TaqI and G*BsmI alleles than the Europeoid groups (p=0.008; p < 0.0001). Since the herders and hunters categories consist only of Mongoloid populations, further comparisons of allele frequencies by TTE were made between the Mongoloid groups. The TTE affiliation factor was significant for the frequencies of G*BsmI and A*FokI polymorphisms (p=0.02). Carriage of G*BsmI was lower in herders than in hunters (p=0.02). The frequency of A*FokI in the herders and hunters groups did not differ, but in both groups it was significantly (p<0.05) lower than in the agriculturalists group.

Conclusion. The distribution of VDR polymorphisms was related to race. In Mongoloid populations, TTE affiliation is a significant factor that affects the distribution of VDR polymorphisms. The frequencies of VDR polymorphisms in the herders and hunter-fisherman groups of Europeoid origin are yet to be studied. There are no sufficient data on the frequency of VDR polymorphisms in the herders and hunter-fisherman groups of Europeoid origin. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. The article presents the results of the anthropological expedition to Petrozavodsk (Northwestern Federal District), conducted in April 2024, in order to study the long-term (secular) dynamics of total body size, changes in body proportions over the past 60 years, and morphological characteristics of modern youth in this region.

Materials and methods. The study group consisted of 470 young men and women aged 18–23, mainly (more than 90%) Russians by nationality, born and living in Petrozavodsk. Subjects were examined according to a comprehensive anthropometric program including measurement of total body sizes, shoulder and pelvic breadths, trunk and limb circumferences, skinfolds, and grip strength on right hand.

Results and discussion. The average height of young men born in Petrozavodsk increased by 7.7 cm across birth cohorts from the 1936-49s to the 2001–2006s (2024 survey). The rate of secular increase is about 1.1 cm per decade. Intergroup comparisons of body length in female samples from Petrozavodsk demonstrated an increase in height in modern women by 6.3 cm compared with the cohorts born in the 1936-49s (about 0.9 cm per decade). Along with the secular increase in total body size over the past 60 years, a tendency towards a relatively narrow build and an increase in andromorphic proportions of the body build in modern young women of Petrozavodsk has been noted. Long-term changes in anthropometric parameters in Petrozavodsk are comparable with the general secular trend in Russia and are consistent with the hypothesis of the dominant influence of socio-economic factors on intergenerational transformation of the physique of children, adolescents and young adults.

Conclusion. Based on the materials of an anthropological survey of young men and women in Petrozavodsk aged 18-23, conducted in 2024 by the research team of the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, using comparable data obtained from literature sources, long-term changes (secular trend) in total body size have been established. The regional features of the physique of young men and women surveyed in Petrozavodsk, compared with youth from other cities in Russia, were revealed. Based on the most informative body dimensions, spider web charts are created to illustrate the unique aspects of the physical condition of young men and women in Petrozavodsk. These charts can be employed to track physical development and enhance the adaptability and physical well-being of today's young population. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. Studying the ethnogenesis of Tuvans through the prism of the gene pools of their ancestral groups makes it possible to highlight the problem of the Mongolian influence on the formation of their gene pool: Tuvans are characterized by close ethno-cultural ties with Mongol-speaking tribes of Central Asia; Tuvans have an increased contribution of the Mongoloid anthropological variant; the Tuvan language ranks first among Turkic languages in terms of the number of Mongolian loanwords.

Materials and methods. A total sample of representatives of 12 Tuvan tribal groups (N=498) was studied using 60 SNP markers of the Y chromosome, characteristic of Northern Eurasian populations. 24 Y-haplogroups have been identified in the Tuvan gene pool. A comparison of the genetic differences between the tribal groups and between the territorial groups of Tuvans has been carried out. A generalized anthropological portrait of the Tuvan tribal groups Dongak and Sat has been created. A multidimensional statistical analysis 12 of Tuvan tribal groups in the genetic space of South Siberia and Central Asia was carried out.

Results. The «Paleosiberian» haplogroup Q1b-L56 is characterized by a clinal variability of increasing frequency from west to east; the direction of variability of haplogroup N1-F963 is opposite – its frequency increases from east to west. The maximum frequencies of the «Central Asian» haplogroups C2-M217, O1-F492, and O2-M122 were found in the southern Tuvan tribal groups, while the minimum frequencies were found in the western and northeastern tribal groups. The position of Tuvan tribal groups in the genetic space of the populations of Southern Siberia and Central Asia demonstrates the multicomponent nature of the formation of the gene pools of Tuvan tribal groups on a single Samoyed-Ket substrate connecting them with other populations of Southern Siberia. Interaction with Mongolian-speaking tribes is reflected in the gene pool of only individual Tuvan clans (most strongly in the tribal group Kyrgys). Generalized anthropological portraits of the Dongak and Sat ancestral groups are consistent with the results of Y-chromosome analysis: the increased frequency of "Central Asian" haplogroups is characteristic of the Sat. The differences between gene pools of tribal groups are more significant than between territorial groups of Tuvans.

Conclusion. The analysis of gene pools in 12 tribal groups has shown that for ethnic groups preserved the memory of the ancestral structure, the most informative is a study of gene pools of their tribal groups, rather than territorial entities. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. The goal of the article is to compare different algorithms for calculating the frequencies of dental nonmetric traits.

Materials and methods. The experiment was conducted on the materials of a modern group of Tuvinians (Eastern Siberia), the sample size 135 individuals. The frequencies of 11 traits have been calculated using several methods common for paleophenetic studies. The obtained values were tested using a 2-tailed exact Fisher criterion.

Results. It has been established that the frequencies of traits obtained by different methods are in good agreement with each other. The exception is the increased values obtained with one of the calculation options «per individual»: namely, when the calculation includes cases of the presence of only one tooth, the anti-mere, on which the feature is only positive. In addition, two sample size 25 and 10 observations were randomly generated from individuals who possess the trait on both sides. The frequencies in the sample size 25 individuals turned out to be stable, and the data are in good agreement with the full series, regardless of the method of calculation. A sample of 10 individuals does not agree with the characteristics of the full series.

Discussion. It is most preferable to calculate the frequencies «per individual» when observation is possible from both sides, but this is problematic with a small group of fragmentary materials. For small series, an individual calculation is applicable, when the feature can be observed on both or on one of the sides (all cases are taken into account, regardless of the presence of the trait). The results obtained are valid for a specific series and traits. This work begins a series of articles on feature calculating methods in dental anthropology. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. The present study is devoted to the assessment of the association of two indicators of biological age (menarche age and peak height velocity) through the upward segment of ontogenesis and their joint informativeness.

Materials and methods. The analysis involved a block of samples of female adolescents (N=43) from the territory of the Russian Federation and neighboring countries, as well as the archival materials (N=4) collected as part of the work of the Laboratory of Applied Anthropology with the direct participation of one of the authors in the 1980s. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between growth rates (PHV) and associated indicators with menarche age.

Results and discussion. It has been shown that the age of menarche is significantly positively associated with both the age of onset of peak height velocity and the maximum increase in body height during this peak. Statistically significant negative associations were recorded for the age of menarche and the year of the survey, which once again confirms the existence of a secular trend in the development of the adolescent population of our country and neighboring territories (the former USSR bloc). This is also evidenced by the positive relationship between the year of examination and the maximum increase in average body height during the peak height velocity. In the secular aspect, there is a tendency towards a gradual convergence of the parallel decreasing timing of the onset of menarche and the peak height velocity in Moscow girls examined over a period of more than 80 years. The transition to the onset of earlier puberty is smooth, whereas for the peak of the growth rate, this process is more intense in the interval from 1928 to 1956 (and the difference between them is maximal), which may indicate a greater sensitivity of the latter to the social cataclysms detected at this stage.

Conclusion. Our results on the correlation of the ages of menarche and peak height velocity allow us to make a cautious conclusion about the possibility of using the latter as an indicator of the chronobiological status of the population. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. The article presents the results of mathematical analysis of the dynamics of body length of the male population of Russia aged 17 years and older in 1901–2005. The novelty of the article is that the largest anthropometric data base on Russians of the 20th century is studied using the methods of multivariate correlation and regression analysis of dynamic series.

Materials and methods. The study used individual data on the height of 1,519,037 men aged 17 years and older, born between 1901 and 2005, 91% Russians, examined mainly during recruitment into the army under a program that included measuring total body dimensions. Dynamic series of body length and factor variables were analyzed using correlation and regression analysis in order to identify factors explaining the dynamics of growth in the 20th century and to construct a multiple regression model.

Results. Multiple correlation and regression analysis of body height dynamics depending on 16 economic, social, demographic and environmental factors by annual (with and without lag), by average 5-year and
20-year indicators yielded results that are important in terms of method and content. Four regression models were constructed for each type of data. The most interesting results were obtained by the model of variability of annual growth indicators taking into account the lag and the model of variability of average 5-year growth indicators. The first explains 51% of the variation in male height across years, and the second explains 78% of the variation in male height across five-year periods in 1950–2005.

Conclusion. The results of the mathematical-statistical and theoretical analysis largely coincide, which confirms the reliability and relevance of both. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. During the fourth season of the Nubian Archaeological and Anthropological Expedition, organized by the Moscow State University Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology, research was conducted in the Deraheib site in Sudan, from February to March 2022. A 2×2 m test trench with a depth of 2.2 m was opened during the season underneath the opening in the wall in order to clarify the structural features of the northwestern wall and determine the construction phases of the Fortress.

Materials and methods. The excavated soil was meticulously sieved. The archaeological material consisted mainly of pottery and animal bones. Their analysis allows us to draw basic conclusions about the nature of the layer in which the trench was laid and to date the time of its formation. The light green soil was also analysed. Architectural analysis also allowed us to draw some important conclusions about the site.

Conclusions. Based on the results of studies in the test trench and the data from the engineering and architectural survey of the Northern Fortress, we are able to propose a chronology for the early stages of its usage. We believe that the northwestern and northeastern walls built in the first construction phase were weakened by mudflows, and more powerful walls were built to reinforce them during the second construction phase. The northwestern wall from the second construction period was built on a layer of debris left from the first stage of fortress’s usage. This layer, consisting of lustre ware fragments, dates back to the 10^th century. The space between the northwestern walls, which belonged to the first and second construction phases, respectively, i.e. the 10^th and 11^th centuries or possibly later, was used as a dump for household garbage, toilet waste, or even as an outhouse. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Introduction. The publication continues the series of articles devoted to the description of the collection of photographs of representatives of the peoples of the Kuban region, and is devoted to the study of photographic images of the Abaza. The method of anthropological photography is not only a visual way to preserve information over time, but also plays a significant role in shaping scientific heritage.

Materials and methods. The work was based on a collection of photographs collected by E.D. Felitsyn (1848-1903), presented by him at the Anthropological Exhibition of 1879 in Moscow and stored in the collections of the D.N. Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Results. Describe and analyze the photographic images of the Abaza people who lived in the Batalpashinsky district of the Kuban region in the villages of Loovo-Kubansky and Dudarukovsky.

Discussion. The authorship of the studied Abaza photographs has been established: A.K. Engel, a famous photographer in the Caucasus in the late 19th and early 20th centuries made them. The article presents literary information on the problems of studying the origin, ethnic history, and cultural traditions of this nationality, as well as data on the study of the anthropological features of the Abaza.

Conclusion. The first published photographic images of Abaza, which are part of the collection provided by E.D. Felitsyn at the Anthropological Exhibition in 1879, are unique and have scientific, historical and documentary value and significance as visual material. With the development of modern society, photographs, along with museum exhibits, become the only witnesses of past times and events, an essential addition to the study of the indigenous peoples of the North Caucasus, which requires persistent joint efforts by anthropologists, ethnographers, geneticists, historians and linguists. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license

Introduction. The research is devoted to the study of an archival photographs' collection of the Tungus and Orochons of the late 19th – early 20th centuries, stored in the collections of Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology. In this article some photographs from the collection are published for the first time. In the work examines the possibilities of using archival photographic materials of the Tungus and Orochons to obtain a composite photographic portrait, and its comparison with composite photographic portraits of the modern Evenks.

Materials and methods. The material for the study was a collection of photographs of the Tungus and Orochons, collected at the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th centuries, which is currently stored in the funds of the Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Moreover, to the photographs examined in the collections of the Museum of Anthropology, supplementary sources of archival photographs were used to create a composite portrait. A composite portrait of increased clarity was obtained using the faceONface software (combining images at three reference points). A comparative analysis of composite portraits obtained from archival and modern photographs was carried out.

Results and discussion. As a result of a comparative analysis of composite portraits of young and mature Tungus, constructed from archival materials, their significant similarity was revealed. Similarities were also noted between the portrait of the Tungus, obtained from archival data, and the portrait of modern Amur Evenks.

Conclusion. As a result of the analysis of the archival photo collection, the places of origin of some photographs were clarified, and new persons who participated in the creation of the photo collection were discovered. Based on the results of this study, it was shown that the composite photographic portrait method turned out to be the most correct tool for extracting anthropological information from archival photographic materials. © 2025. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.