An Anthropological Study of Mummified Remains from the Zeleny Yar Cemetery on the Lower Ob, Western Siberia
An Anthropological Study of Mummified Remains from the Zeleny Yar Cemetery on the Lower Ob, Western Siberia
DOI: 10.17746/1563-0110.2017.45.1.135-145
A.N. Bagashev1, D.I. Razhev1, O.E. Poshekhonova1, S.M. Slepchenko1–3, and E.A. Alekseeva1 1Institute of Northern Development, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Malygina 86, Tyumen, 625003, Russia 2Tyumen Scientific Center, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Malygina 86, Tyumen, 625003, Russia 3Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
Zeleny Yar is a cemetery situated 40 km east of Salekhard, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YNAO). Human remains of 43 individuals from 37 graves have been described so far. Mummified remains were discovered in eight graves dating to the 12th or 13th centuries. We outline the results of a computed-tomography analysis of the bestpreserved mummy––that of a male from grave 27. On the basis of an examination of endocranial sutures, the individual’s age was estimated at 45–55. Dental pathology includes caries with consecutive apical periodontitis, and osteoarthritis of the left temporomandibular joint. Also, the examination revealed injuries and degenerativedystrophic postcranial lesions. To analyze the individual’s physical type and reconstruct his face, a plastic cast of the cranium was modeled using 3D-modeling technique. The male had a Mongoloid appearance. Specifically, he can be attributed to the Yamal-Yenisei local variant of the West Siberian race. The modern representatives of this type are the Nenets of the Siberian tundra.
