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Tele (Teleut) Craniology
A.R. Kim
MATERIALS ON THE CRANIOLOGY OF THE TELEUTIANS

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A.R. Kim
MATERIALS ON THE CRANIOLOGY OF THE TELEUTIANS

In accordance with the project of anthropological study of the aboriginal population in Western Siberia, an expedition for collecting the craniological material of the Bachatian Teleuts was organized by the Research Laboratory of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Tomsk State University in the summer of 1975. Excavations in the derelict cemetery near the Chelukhoevo village of the Belovsky District in the Kemerovskaya Region resulted in getting 42 male and 35 female skulls of adult individuals. Presently this craniological collection is the only one representing the given ethnic group (the skulls are kept in the Anthropological Department of the Tomsk State University, NN 1449-1525).

Mean measurements of the male and female skulls are given in Table 1 (not cited).

Cranial box of the male skulls is mesocranial under medium values of longitudinal, transversal and height diameters. Ovoid shape predominates at basal view. Ellipsoid and pentagonoid shapes are less common. Absolute and relative frontal breadth is small; inclination and sagittal curve of frontal bone is moderate. Supraglabelar area is weakly developed. Face is of medium breadth, high, leptoprozopic, of moderate flatness. It is orthognathic in vertical angles and ortho-mesognathic in the index of bulging. Nose is high, of medium breadth, leptorrhine. Both anthropine shape of the lower margin of nasal aperture and fossae praenasalis are often encountered. Spina nasalis anterior is moderately developed. Nose-band is not wide, of moderate height. Angle between nasal bones and the facial profile line is in the boundary of medium and small values.

In mean measurements female skulls approximate male ones (with the regard for sex dimorphism).

Lowered and heightened values of the mean quadratic divergences in the male group are encountered approximately in equal number of cases. By indices they are mainly small and medium. Both absolute measurements and indices of female skulls are of medium values of the mean quadratic divergences. Ratios of dispersions of the series under analysis and the ones of mean world (F criterion) demonstrate that in the male group 5 features (breadth, angle of inclination and height of curvature of forehead, depth of canine fossa, nasal angle) possess high variability positively differing from the mean world one (P0.01), while one feature (angle of alveolar part) possesses lowered variability (P0.01). In the female group high variability is observed by 4 features (symotical breadth, depth of canine fossa, mean facial profile angle [P0.01], cranial base breadth). Lowered variability is observed by 5 features (total facial height, upper, mean and biorbital facial breadth, dacrial height) and 2 indices (vertical facio-cerebral and dacrial). Hence the intragroup analysis testifies to the fact that the number of features with high variability is not large and (with the exception of the depth of canine fossa) they do not coincide in male and female groups. In general the series of the Teleutian skulls seems to be rather homogeneous.

On the basis of the features of face flatness and nasal band bulging, the main measurements and proportions, the Teleutian skulls, as well as the ones of the majority of ethnic groups in Southern and Western Siberia, occupy an intermediate position between the Mongoloid and Europeoid race types.

Presently a large craniological material representing various Turkic speaking populations of Siberia is available. Unfortunately, data on craniology of the Southern Altaians (excluding the Telengits), the Teleutians are linguistically related with [Baskakov N.A., 1969], are almost absent. There are no materials on the Northern Altaians though the comparison with these materials would be of a special interest.

Comparison with the skulls of other ethnic groups of Southern and Western Siberia demonstrates that the Teleutians share the maximum similarity with the Kachins [Alexeev V.P., 1960a], Kyzyls [Kim A.R., 1978], Shortzs [Alexeev V.P., 1960a], Chulymians [Rozov N.S., 1956; data of V.A. Dremov]. The Teleutians differ more markedly from representatives of the Central-Asian anthropological type: the Telengits [Debets G.F., 1951] and Touvinians [Alexeev V.P., 1965]. Generalized distances on the base of several features (longitudinal, transversal, height diameters, cranial base length, minimum frontal breadth, bizygomatic diameter, facial base length, upper facial breadth, nasal breadth and height, orbital breadth and height, symotical and dacrial heights, dacrial breadth, angle of frontal profile, total facial angle, angle of alveolar part of face, angle of nose bulging, nazo-malar and zygomaxillar angles), calculated by Penrose method edited by Knussmann [Knussmann R., 1967] support this observations (Table 2 (not cited)) (while calculating the distance on "size" [CQ2] the angular features were excluded [see Kozintsev A.G. , 1974]).

Displaying a general similarity with the Khakass and Shortzs, the Teleutians however are distinguished by several craniometric features. They have longer, narrow and higher cerebral boxes. Their faces are less wide but sometimes higher, with noses projecting to the larger extent. By these features the Teleutians differ more markedly from the Telengits and Tuovinians. More leptomorphic structure and less flatness of facial skeleton of the Teleutian skulls are suggestive of a larger admixture of Europeoid elements in this group if compared with other Turkic speaking groups of Southern and Western Siberia.

Comparison of the obtained results with the somatological data on the Bachatian Teleuts is of a special interest. According to A.I. Yarkho [1947], the value of longitudinal diameter of the Teleutian skulls approximates the maximum size recorded in the groups of aboriginal population in the Altai-Sayanian upland. By the bizygomatic diameter the Teleutians are among the most narrow-faced groups of the region. They possess the minimum nasal breadth and by the horizontal face profiling they yield only to the Sagais, Beltyrs and near Shortzs. Thus the somatological and craniological data are in a certain concordance. A.I. Yarkho's conclusion about the maximum anthropological similarity between the Teleutians and the Southern Altaians [Yarkho A.I., 1947, p. 133] is mainly based on structure of soft tissues and is not corroborated by craniological data.

How the anthropological peculiarity of the Teleutians if compared with other Turkic speaking groups of the Altai-Sayanian upland can be explained? May it be a result of crossing between the Teleutians and Russian migrants?

The cemetery excavated by us is dated from the beginning of the 19/the first decades of the 20 century. According to the census of the population of 1897, 481 persons (including 470 aboriginal Turks and only 11 Russians ) lived in Chelukhoevo [Patkanov S.K., 1911, p.285]. The majority of the Teleutians (450) considered the Teleutian to be their native language [ibid., p.298]. According the information, obtained by our expedition, at the beginning of the 20 century there were two cemeteries in Chelukhoevo. One cemetery was for orthodox believers, while the another one was for unchristened persons who still were numerous among the Teleutians. The cemetery of the unchristened Teleutians was excavated by us. Proceeding from these data one can hardly suggest the presence of any significant Russian admixture in the series under analysis.

However the comparison among the Teleutian series and the skulls of Russians from northern, north-western, western and central parts of Russia [Alexeev V.P., 1969] was made. Little more profiled face and nose projecting to a larger degree of the Teleutians if compared with other Turkic speaking groups of the Altai-Sayans may probably be explained by the Russian admixture. However, by some other features (longitudinal diameter, height measurements of face, upper facial and nasal indices) the Teleutian skulls differ markedly from the Russian series. In addition, differences by these features come in the direction opposed to the general morpho-physiological connection. On the whole the complex of features of the Teleutian skulls can not be explained by mixing of the Teleutians and Russians. It is possible that anthropological peculiarities of the Teleutians were formed at the same territory in the earlier period of time.

During several years the kurgan burial ground located near the Ur-Bedari village of the Belovsky District and attributed to the Old Turkic time (8-10 centuries AD) was excavated by M.G. Yelkin. V.P. Alexeev, while studying the craniological material, came to the conclusion that the population belonged to the Mongoloid group with some Europeoid admixture [Alexeev V.P., 1960 b, p.98; 1974, p.112].

The comparison of skulls from Ur-Badari with synchronous craniological materials from the foothills and mountains of the Altai has shown that these groups share a similarity. However there are some differences between them. For instance, low cranial index and high value of cranial height unite the series of Ur-Bedari and the one from the Altai foothills and distinguish them from the mountain Altai group. These differences are analogous to those observed between the Teleutian skulls and the ones of other Turkic speaking groups of modern aboriginal population in Southern and Western Siberia.

Comparison between the Teleutian skulls and the Ur-Bedari series demonstrates a moderate similarity. The generalized distance of Penrose-Knussmann between them exceeds the distance among the Teleutian series and skulls of the Khakass, Shortzs and Chulymians, though it is less than the distance among the Teleutian skulls and the Telengit and Touvinian series (Table 2 (not cited)).

By placing Penrose-Knussmann distances by "size" (Cq2) and "shape" (Ch2) on the axis of co-ordinates, a graph reflecting the degree of similarity of the Teleutian skulls with ancient and modern series has been obtained (Fig. 1 (not cited)).

On the whole the modern Teleutian skulls represent more distinctly the traits distinguishing the medieval series of Ur-Bedari and the foothills of the Altai from the mountain Altai series. The Teleutian skulls are characterized by even smaller transversal diameter and skull index, and by the face which is less wide and more profiled in horizontal plane. Differences in the female group are less pronounced, but they are of the same kind as in the male group.

While analyzing the craniological series from Ur-Bedari V.P. Alexeev arrived at a conclusion that it is heterogeneous. The male group was divided into mesocranial and brachycranial subdivisions [Alexeev V.P., 1960b]. As it turned out, the mesocranial group is distinguished by smaller dimensions of facial skeleton and stronger profiling of face in its horizontal plane.

This group of mesocranial skulls from the Ur-Bedari burial ground demonstrates the maximum similarity to the Teleutian series (Table 3). It is manifested not only in the features of facial flatness testifying to identical intermediate position between Mongoloid and Europeoid groups. It is also represented by various sizes and proportions of the cerebral and facial sections forming a specific complex of features and distinguishing the mesocranial group of Ur-Bedari from other medieval series and the Teleutian skulls from craniological series of other modern groups of the Altai-Sayany upland. The Teleutian skulls differ from the medieval mesocranial group mainly by larger sizes; they also are less massive, which can be easily explained by the process of gracialization which was in progress during 1000 years.

Hence there are some reasons to suggest a genetic relation between the modern Teleutians and the medieval population of the Kuznetsk hollow represented by the group of mesocranial skulls in the Ur-Bedari burial ground.

Issues of ethnic composition and origin of the modern Teleutians are rather well elucidated in historico-ethnographical literature. According to old Chinese sources, in the first half of the I millennium AD western regions of Central Asia were inhabited by the tribes of nomad cattle-breeders named "Tele". At the end of the 1 century AD the majority of the Tele were concentrated in the upper reaches of the Irtysh River [Bichurin N.Y., 1950, p.195]. Researchers consider representative of this group to be the earliest ancestors of the modern Teleutians [Gumilev L.N., 1967; Potapov L.P., 1969]. During the early Middle Ages the Kypchak and lately the Mongolian ethnic elements joined them [Potapov L.P., 1969].

First records of the Bachatian Teleuts are dated to the beginning of the 17 century. They do not comprise any data concerning the timing of their appearance in the Kuzntsk hollow. Anthropological material let us to suggest that ancestors of the Teleutians lived there as early as in the Middle Ages.

REFERENCES (transcribed titles)

Alexeev V.P. Kraniologia hakassov v svyazi s voprosami ih proishozhdenia// Trudy Kirgizskoi arheologo-etnographicheskoi ekspedicii. V.4. Moskwa: Nauka, 1960a.
Alexeev V.P. Pozdnie kochevniki Kuznetskoi kotloviny po dannym paleantropologii//Kratkie soobshenia Instituta etnographii. N 25. Moscow, 1960b.
Alexeev V.P. K proishozhdeniyu kumandintsev// Zapiski Gorno-Altaiskogo instituta istorii, yazyka i literatury. N 6, Gorno-Altaisk, 1964.
Alexeev V.P. Kraniologische Daten und die Entstehung der Volker des Altai und Sajan// Antropologische Anzeiger. Ihg. 28. N 1. Stuttgart, 1965.
Alexeev V.P. Proishozhdeniye narodov Vostochnoi Evropy. Moscwa: Nauka, 1969.
Alexeev V.P. K srednevekovoi paleoantropologii Kuznetskoi kotloviny// Izvestiya laboratorii arheologicheskih issledovanyi. N 5. Kemerovo, 1974.
Baskakov I.A. Vvedeniye v izucheniye turkskih yazykov. Moscwa: Nauka, 1969.
Bichurin N.Y. Sobraniye svedenij o narodah, obitavshij v Srednej Azii v drevniye vremena. V.I. Moscwa-Leningrad, 1950.
Gumilev L.N. Drevniye turki. Moscwa: Nauka, 1967.
Debets G.F. Antropologicheskiye issledovaniya v Kamchatskoi oblasti//Trudy Instituta etnographii. V.17. Moscwa, 1951.
Kozintsev A.G. Statisticheskiye dannyje k probleme proishozhdeniya craniologicheskogo tipa ainov//Rasogeneticheskiye processy v etnicheskoi istorii. Moscwa: Nauka, 1974.
Patkanov S.K. Statisticheskiye dannye, pokazyvayushie plemennoi sostav naseleniya Sibiri, yazyk i rody inorodcev. Na osnovanii dannyh specialnyh razrabotok materiala perepisi 1897 g. V.2. Spb., 1911.
Potapov L.P. Etnicheskyi sostav i proishozhdeniye altaicev. Leningad: Nauka, 1969.
Rozov N.S. Materialy po kraniologii chulymcev i selkupov//Trudy Instituta etnographii. V.33. Moscwa, 1956.
Yarkho A.I. Altaye-Sayanskiye turki. Antropologicheskyi ocherk. Abakan, 1947.
Knussmann R. Penrose-Abstant und Discriminanzanalyse // Homo. Bd.18. Hf.3. 1967.

Home
Back
Russian
Contents Turkic Genetics
Contents Huns
Contents Tele
Sources
Roots
Writing
Language
Religion
Genetics
Geography
Archeology
Coins
Wikipedia
Classification of Türkic languages
Language Types
Lingo-Ethnical Tree
Indo-European, Arians, Dravidian, and Rigveda
Scythian Ethnic Affiliation
Foundation of the Scythian-Iranian theory
Türkic borrowings in English
Türkic in Romance
Alans in Pyrenees
Türkic in Greek
Türkic-Sumerian
Türkic-Etruscan
Alan Dateline
Avar Dateline
Besenyo Dateline
Bulgar Dateline
Huns Dateline
Karluk Dateline
Khazar Dateline
Kimak Dateline
Kipchak Dateline
Kyrgyz Dateline
Sabir Dateline
Seyanto Dateline

05/25/2009