The Dentition of the Alakul People, with Reference to their Origin

The Dentition of the Alakul People, with Reference to their Origin

A.V. Zubova.

Results of the analysis of nonmetric dental traits in the Alakul sample from Kazakhstan and Western Siberia indicate ethnic heterogeneity. The eastern Alakul population apparently descended mainly from Asian groups. The only European group showing the same affi nities is the Catacomb group of Kalmykia, which is dentally closest to the Alakul populations. The Alakul people of Western Kazakhstan, in addition, display ties with several European populations. These ties are evidenced by the low frequency of “eastern” dental markers and by the absence of dental reduction or gracilization. The Alakul people of the Southern Urals evidently descended mostly from the native groups of that territory.

Keywords: Dentition, Andronovo culture, Alakul culture, Fedorovka culutre, Catacomb culture.