An anthropological and paleopatological research of human skeletons from buries 7c. BC from Nor Armavir burial ground (Armenia)

Abstract

The material of the study was the skeletal remains of 10 individuals (one man, three women, 5 children and one individual without sex definition) discovered in August 2019 during excavations of New Armavir grave. For the first time, a comprehensive paleoanthropological analysis of the data was obtained for this grave. The study was carried out by visual examination of skeletons and radiography. Traces of pathological processes on skeletons have been revealed and their etiology has been reconstructed. The structure of the paleopathological profile of the sample is dominated by inflammatory diseases, abnormalities and injuries. The tradition of inadvertently changing the shape of the head in a given sample probably caused a specific way of caring for the infant in the early years of his life and a long stay in a certain cradle. Two craniological complexes can be conditionally isolated as part of this group. The first is of the low-head mesocrane type, the second high-head dolichocrane type. The odontological complex is of the southern graceful type with a high level of reduction of the hypoconus of the second upper molars, small tooth sizes. At the individual level, the total size and shape of the body of the adult population has been analysed. Labour burdens are recorded in both women and men. It has been established that the state of health of individuals buried in the grave was unsatisfactory, as evidenced by the large number of pathologies. In our study, 5 out of 4 children skeletons with evident lesions, that were defined as diagnostic of scurvy. An anthropological analysis of 10 skeletons revealed at the 4 individuals penetrating wounds on the skeletons. Although considerable uncertainty remains, we believe that the most likely conclusion is that Nor Armavir burials represent a place for at least some sacrificed individuals dedicated as offerings.