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remains of two boys, aged 7 and 14 years, were found in the studied mounds. The 14-year-old boy was diagnosed with a fractured left femur, most likely during his lifetime, and that could be a possible cause of death. This teenager also had "stress marker" on his teeth, which leads to a conclusion about food irregularity in the diet of human groups in the Late Bronze Age. The traces of paleo-disease with similar symptoms were revealed in one of the buried adults in Muradymovskoe settlement (Obydennova, Sherbakov, Shuteleva, 2006). At present this requires further research.
Key words: Late Bronze Age, Southern Transurals, Srubnaya and Andronovskaya cultures, paleo-disease
Contact information: Shuteleva lia, e-mail: [email protected],
PALEOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SKELETAL REMAINS
FROM A 10TH-12TH CENTURY AD CEMETERY FROM HUNGARY
Spekker Olga, Palfi Gyorgy, Bereczki Zsolt, Molnar Erika
Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Sieged, S%eged, Hungary
The aim of our study is to present results of the paleopathological investigation of a 10th-12th century AD cemetery from South-East Hungary. The examination of the skeletal remains of 59 individuals was performed using standard macromorphological methods of bioarchaeology. Before the paleopathological analysis of the series, sex and age at death of individuals and state of preservation of the observable skeletal elements were also recorded. In spite of the poor state of preservation, the examined osteoarchaeological series showed a wide range of paleopathological alterations: skeletal traces of degenerative articular changes, traumas and infectious diseases were observed. This presentation focuses on infectious lesions. On the basis of the detected alterations (rib lesions, superficial vertebral changes / hypervascularisation, endocranial alterations and potential stress indicators or infection markers, such as cribra orbitalia and long bone periostitis) the diagnosis of probable early-stage TB was supposed in five cases. Although a positive correlation seems to exist between these alterations and TB, they are not always pathognomonic to tuberculosis. In order to confirm the assumed diagnosis, further biomolecular investigations are planned. A mature female individual showed signs of severe destruction of the right maxilla most probably as a result of periodontal inflammation. The same skeleton revealed skeletal evidence of symbolic trephination on the middle of the sagittal suture. It cannot be excluded that this intervention was made for medicoritual purposes. Our results contribute to improving the knowledge on health status in historic populations of Hungary at the time of political and cultural transition from Eastern traditions to feudalism and Christianity. The support of the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund, OTKA NN 78696 and OTKA N° 78555 is greatly acknowledged.
Key words: paleopathology, Hungary, 10th-12th century AD, tuberculosis, periodontal inflammation, symbolic trephination
Contact information: Spekker Olga, e-mail: [email protected].
COLOR AND CONSTITUTION: EXPERIENCE OF STUDYING AESTHETIC PREFERENCES
Vergeles Marina, Shpak Larisa
Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, LLomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
It is impossible to draw clear interdisciplinary boundaries in the study of color concept regarding interactions between human and color-light environment, and anthropology may be used as a complex approach to this study combining both science and humanities. In this case we can define color preference as part of the
Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Series 23 ANTHROPOLOGIYA — 3/2014
19th Congress of the European Anthropological Association Lomonosov MSU, Moscow, Russia, 25th - 29th August, 2014
general human constitution along with morphological and psychological features. Using a sample of 157 Moscow students (80 males and 77 females) we examined correlations between color attitude and somatic (somato-type, pigmentation, dynamometry) and psychological (anxiety and neuroticism level, extraversion-introversion trait) features. Color attitude was measured verbally and projectively by coloring graphic tests with simple and complex shapes. On the basis of verbal color tests' results we calculated coefficient of color preference and general color attitude index. Coefficients of harmonious color combinations are based on the results of graphic tests. Sex differences in neuroticism, state and trait anxiety levels are valid: females are more restless and anxious while males are more emotionally stable. Most of the examined individuals do not have a disliked color or colors, having one is strongly correlated with higher level of both neuroticism and state anxiety, correlation is slightly stronger for females. The most common choice of a favorite color is blue and green. There are sex differences in the preference of black, white, purple, yellow and turquoise colors: males prefer achromatic colors relatively more. Most of morphological features are uncorrelated with color choice; however there are some certain correlations with eye and hair color. There are some correlations between color attitude and somatotype: athletic males and mesoplastic females have a negative color attitude significantly rarely and thus emotionally are less dependent on color environment. Choice of harmonious color pairs is psychosomatically determined only for a test with simple shapes. Complex shapes coloring reveals color associations defined rather by social and cultural aspects of color perception. However, the amount of harmonious choices is two or three times bigger than the amount of inharmonious, and females tend to select harmonious color pairs more often than males. Prevalence of harmonious color choices to some extent indicates possible biological expediency of this behavioral adaptation that formed human aesthetic color perception.
Key words: constitution, color, color preference
Contact information: Vergeles Marina, e-mail: [email protected],
Shpak Larisa, e-mail: [email protected].
19 Конгресс Европейской Антропологической Ассоциации МГУ имени М.В.Ломоносова, Москва, 25-29 августа, 2014
Вестник Московского университета. Серия XXIII АНТРОПОЛОГИЯ — 3/2014
