Paleopathological features of the population of the 10th-11th centuries from under the kurgan and ground burials in the Lower Volga region

Pererva Evgeniy Vladimirovich ORCID: 0000-0001-8285-4461 PhD in History Associate Professor; Department of History and International Relations; Volgograd State University 400062, Russia, Volgograd region, Volgograd, Universitetskiy ave., 100 evgeniy.pererva@volsu.ru Balahtina Kseniya Aleksandrovna ORCID: 0009-0004-5220-7799 Junior Researcher; Department of History and International Relations; Volgograd State University 400062, Russia, Volgograd region, Volgograd, Universitetskiy ave., 100 balahtina.kseniya@mail.ru

Khegai Konstantin Mihailovich ORCID: 0009-0000-9365-7180 Junior Researcher; Department of History and International Relations; Volgograd State University 400062, Russia, Volgograd region, Volgograd, Universitetskiy ave., 100 hegaykm@gmail.com

The problems of the origin and history of the nomadic peoples of the early Middle Ages have long attracted the attention of researchers. Nevertheless, the anthropological specifics of the population of the Oguz period of the X-XII centuries. The Lower Volga region has been studied relatively poorly. The first descriptions of the morphological features of the nomads of the Eastern European steppes of the 5th-12th centuries are given in the work of G.F. Debets. The author analyzed the bone remains from the graves of the VII-VIII centuries, obtained as a result of the excavations of P.S. Rykova near the village of Zinovievka ^{[12, p. 268]}.

The anthropological materials of the Oghuz nomads or "guzzes", as Ahmed ibn-Fadlan calls them ^{[18, p. 125]}, were first studied by V.V. Ginzburg. The researcher analyzed a craniological series of 9 skulls from the 10th-12th centuries from the Kalinovsky burial ground. The scientist characterized the general anthropological type of the population by various variants of the Caucasian race. Among them, V.V. Ginzburg identified two types: dolicho-mesocrane and brachycrane. The first option, in his opinion, is close to the population of the Late Sarmatian period from the burial mounds of the Volga-Don interfluve and the North Caucasus ^{[10, p. 576]}. The second type, Andronovsky, as the author suggests, arose on a local basis. V.V. Ginzburg finds analogies to this morphological complex among the population buried in the burial mound of Belaya Vezha ^{[10, p. 582]}.

Two skulls from the burial mound of Bykovo I, one male and one female, dating from the X-XI centuries, were described by N.M. Glazkova and V.P. Chitetsov. According to the authors, the studied craniums are characterized by the type of brachycrane Caucasoids ^{[11, pp. 291-292]}.

L.G. Vuich analyzed paleoanthropological materials from a nomadic burial mound near the town of Sarkela-Belaya Vezha, which M.I. Artamonov dated to the IX-XI centuries. The author points out that the population buried in this burial mound did not represent a racially homogeneous group ^{[9, p. 445]}. Different racial complexes have been identified on male and female turtles. Namely: the Caucasoid craniotype of the Central Asian interfluve, as well as the Mongoloid South Siberian complex. According to the researcher, some skulls possessed a mixed racial morphocomplex ^{[9, p. 428]}. As L.G. Vuich points out, the origin of the population of the South Russian steppes and the spread of various anthropological types among its groups can be explained by the processes of assimilation of the local autochthonous population by Turkic nomads. The researcher also noted that some of the nomads are descendants of the Usuns who inhabited Central Asia ^{[9, p. 444]}.

Despite the fact that L.G. Vuich's work is devoted to the problems of the origin and specifics of the racial composition of the population who left the burial mound of Sarkela-Belaya Vezha, as a result of the study of bone materials, scientists made important observations of a bioarchaeological nature, which allow us to establish some features of the Oguz lifestyle. First of all, this is an indication of the small number of women in the burials, the complete absence of children in the burials and a small number of old individuals. The researcher also identified injuries on the skulls, which were most likely inflicted with a sharp weapon and had a violent origin ^{[9, pp. 420, 444]}.

Similar conclusions about the presence of a mixed racial complex on the skulls of the X-XII centuries were made by B.V. Firshtein, who studied 9 skulls from the Zavolzhsky burial mounds of Novonikolskoye I and Verkhne Pogromnoye I. Craniological analysis allowed the author to identify in the population the Caucasoid brachycranic types, the Andronovo and Central Asian mesopotamia, which were previously discovered by V.V. Ginzburg on the materials of the Kalinovsky burial ground, as well as the Mongoloid narrow-faced type. According to B.V. Firshtein, the nomadic groups that came to the territory of the Volgograd Volga region represented a partially racially mixed population ^{[31, p. 192]}.

The works of M.A. Balabanova should be highlighted from modern research. So, together with Volgograd archaeologists, she studied two male skulls from Oguz burials from the Zavolzhsky kurgan burial ground Kolobovka III. On them, the scientist identified a brachycrane Caucasoid craniological complex with a slight Mongoloid admixture. It should be noted that traces of unintentional artificial deformation of the Beshik type were recorded on the child's skull and on the brain capsule of a young woman M.A. Balabanova, which had never been determined by researchers before ^{[19, pp. 247-248]}.

Later, M.A. Balabanova studied a consolidated series of 55 skulls, including materials from the nomadic burial ground of Sarkel-Belaya Vezha and burial mounds of the Volgograd region: Kalinovsky, Verkhne Pogromnoye, Nikolsky, Rubezhny, Vertyachy, Kilyakovka, Kolobovka III and IV, Staritsa, Novy Rogachik, etc. As a result of intra-group and intergroup analysis, the researcher came to the conclusion about the Turkic origin of the Oguzo-Pecheneg population, who left burial complexes on the territory of the steppe zone of Eastern Europe. M.A. Balabanova identified two racial components in the studied group. The first is a Caucasoid with a mesocrane cranial box defined as a type of Central Asian mesopotamia. The second one is Mongoloid, represented by the Central Asian and South Siberian variants. However, according to the researcher, most of the Oguz skulls are characterized by mixed Mongoloid-Caucasoid features ^{[3, pp. 28-29]}.

Concluding the review of anthropological studies of nomads of the X-XII centuries, it should be said that almost all the works discussed above are devoted to the study of the morphological appearance of the population and its ethnic composition. In these works, the authors tried to highlight the problems of the origin of the nomadic groups that occupied the Eastern European steppes in the Oguzo-Pecheneg period.

Nevertheless, along with studies of the anthropological appearance of the Oguz in Russian anthropology, there are also works devoted to the study of pathological conditions among nomads of the early Middle Ages. Thus, M.A. Finkelstein examined 12 skeletons of the X-XII centuries, originating from the burial mounds of Novonikolskoye I and Verkhne Pogromnoye I. When studying materials from these monuments, the author described cases of curvature of the long bones of the skeleton, which were most likely associated with late rickets. In one individual, M.A. Finkelstein revealed traces of syphilis on the skull and on the bones of the postcranial skeleton. The researcher found signs of injuries on the remains of three people.

The author also recorded dental pathologies in the form of odontogenic osteomyelitis. M.A. Finkelstein paid special attention to cases of deforming arthrosis in four individuals and individual features of the development of muscle relief on the bones of nomads. The high frequency of calcifications on the femoral and tibial bones, as well as degenerative joint changes, is explained by the author by heavy load and even overload of the musculoskeletal system ^{[30, pp. 206-207]}.

In this vein, the monumental works of D.G. Rokhlin should also be noted, in which a numerous series consisting of 350 skeletons originating from the Christian burials of the city of Sarkela-Belaya Vezha (X-XII centuries) was described. High frequencies of traumatic injuries with and without signs of healing were recorded on the materials of this series. D.G. Rokhlin found a large number of cases of premature joint wear, syphilitic lesions, odontogenic osteomyelitis and various periodontal diseases on bone remains from Belaya Vezha ^{[27, pp. 450-529; 28, pp. 198-201]}.

The study presented below is devoted to the paleopathological analysis of anthropological materials originating from underground and underground graves from the territory of the Lower Volga region, dating back to the X-XI centuries and belonging to the Oguz nomads.

The material and methodology of the study.

The bone remains of 22 individuals of the Oguz period were studied. Among them are 2 teenagers, 10 men and 10 women. In this series, 21 craniums and 6 postcranial skeletons were studied in varying degrees of preservation. Anthropological materials originate from underground graves from the territories of the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions (Fig. 1). In the process of working with anthropological material, the method of fixing paleopathological signs by A.P. Buzhilova was used ^{[7; 8]}, developed both on the basis of published data indicating the degree of severity in the point system, and supplemented by recommendations from foreign authors ^{[32; 35; 33]}.

Sex determination was carried out on the basis of the morphology of the skull and postcranial skeleton using the anthropological methods of V.P. Alekseev and G.F. Debets ^[1], V.P. Alekseev ^[2]. The age of adolescents was determined based on data on the development of the dental system and the length of the diaphysis of the long bones of the skeleton ^[35]. The age determination in adult individuals was carried out taking into account the scheme of the degree of fusion of cranial sutures, as well as the degree of abrasion of dental crowns ^{[21; 1; 2; 32]}.

Results.

Gender and age characteristics of the group. The studied series is represented by the remains of 22 individuals (Table 1). In 10 cases, the anthropological materials belonged to men, and in 10 – to women. In this regard, the sex ratio in the series is parity. The average age of death is 33.1 years. Life expectancy for men and women is almost the same and fits into the range of 34.2-34.9 years. The frequency of occurrence in burials of individuals over 50 years of age is not high – 1.6%. (Table 1). There are no children. There are two peaks of mortality in the group, the first occurring at the age of 25-29 years, and the second at 35-39 years.

Pathology of the dental system, as indicators of nutrition and diet features. There were no signs of caries on the teeth of adults and young individuals of the X-XI centuries. Most often, such pathological conditions as tartar are observed in the series – 84%, degenerative changes in the form of osteoarthritis of the temporomandibular joint - 58%, as well as periodontal diseases – 53%. Abscesses and chipped enamel on teeth are rare. Pathological tooth abrasion and lifetime loss are observed in a third of the sexually mature population. Only one individual had a case of interproximal grooves on the molars, which arose due to the use of a hard toothpick (Table 3).

It should also be pointed out that statistically significant gender and age differences in the occurrence of pathological conditions on teeth in the population of the Oguz period were not revealed (Table 3). Although in general, it can be said that deviations of the dental system are somewhat more often detected in men. The boundary value of the frequency of periodontal diseases in individuals aged maturus has also been determined, which generally does not contradict modern data ^{[36; 37]}. This fact indicates that periodontal inflammatory processes in oguzes are more often manifested with age.

Markers of episodic and specific stress. As mentioned above, there are no children in the series. However, markers of nonspecific stress, which are formed at an early age, are recorded on the bone remains of oguz. The incidence of enamel developmental disorders in the series reaches 37%, somewhat more often observed in men. An analysis of the age distributions of enamel hypoplasia demonstrates that more than 30% of adult individuals lived to the age of 35-54 years with a characteristic deviation (Table 3). Judging by the timing of the formation of these stress indicators, they could occur at the age of 2 to 4 years. Probably, at this time, the nomads were transitioning from breastfeeding to constant food.

Indicators of anemia, markers of metabolic disorders and hormonal abnormalities, as well as traces of inflammatory processes on bones were found in the population of the X-XI centuries. Signs of porotic hyperostosis of the bones of the cranial vault and cribra orbitalia are recorded with almost the same frequency in men and women, not exceeding the level of 11%. Indicators of metabolic disorders were found on the bone remains of a 15-17-year-old teenager from the burial of 1 mound 21 of the Staritsa burial ground, in which, along with traces of porotic hyperostosis on the bones of the cranial vault, there are signs of sparsity of bone tissue by type of porosity. Similar changes were identified on the skull of a young individual aged 14-16 years from the burial of 2 burial mounds of 1 burial ground Kolobovka IV. Pathological conditions are observed at the leading edge of the alveolar process of the maxillary bones, as well as in the area of the alveoli.

Signs of inflammatory processes, as well as markers of a lack of trace elements in the body, are rare in the series and only on the bone remains of women. Two cases on the bones of the skull and one on the bones of the postcranial skeleton (Table 3). Periostitis on the remains of oguzes can be characterized as pathologies of the bone system that could arise as a result of nonspecific inflammatory reactions.

A consequence of the presence of stress associated with metabolic diseases and endocrine disorders in nomads of the X-XI centuries is a case of internal frontal hyperostosis. A 35-45-year-old man from burial 4 of kurgan 30 of the Staritsa burial ground has bone formations on the inner surface of the frontal bone, which reach the degree of development "B".

The frequency of occurrence of signs of exposure to low temperatures in the group is average – 53%. In men, the prevalence of vascular reaction reaches 88%. This is the only sign by which men statistically differ from women (Table 3). There is a dominance of traces of vascular reaction in individuals aged 35-54 years, however, there are no significant differences with young individuals.

Injuries on the bones of oguzes, despite the small number of samples, are quite common (Table 3). One lifetime defect of the bones of the cranial vault with signs of healing was revealed in a woman from burial 16 of mound 10 of the Bykovo burial ground. Nasal bone injuries were recorded in 2 men (burial of mound 9, 16 of the Bykovo burial ground and burial of mound 2, 9 of the Malaevka V burial ground), as well as in 2 women (Rakhinka burial ground, burial of mound 1, 3 and Novy Rogachik burial ground, burial of mound 1, 2). A near-death transverse fracture of the lower part of the diaphysis of the right tibia was found in a woman from burial 18 of mound 7 of the Staritsa burial ground.

Unfortunately, due to the small number of sets of bones of the postcranial skeleton, the degree of spread of degenerative-dystrophic diseases, as well as the features of mesomorphy of the muscular relief on the long bones of the skeleton is almost impossible to assess. However, it should be pointed out that of the 6 individuals available for research, 5 had traces of deforming arthrosis. At the same time, degenerative joint changes were equally characteristic of both young individuals under 35 years of age and older people. This fact indicates a high degree of physical activity of the nomadic population of the X-XI centuries.

Additionally, it should be noted traces of unintentional artificial deformation of the lullaby (beshik) type on 6 skulls: 2 male and 4 female with signs of slight asymmetry in the occipital region.

Discussion.

Unfortunately, due to the small number of reliably attributed Oguz burials and the small number of works on the pathology of the population of the Eastern European steppes of the X-XI centuries, it is difficult to conduct a comparative analysis of the series with any synchronous groups. Nevertheless, a series of early medieval populations of previous historical periods, as well as a sample of nomads of the XIII-XIV centuries, are available for analysis. from the territory of the Lower Volga region, comparison with which is most likely to be most appropriate at the moment (Table 4).

Assessing the specifics of the nomadic population of the X-XI centuries of the Lower Volga region, first of all, it is necessary to focus on such an important feature as the absence of children in the series. It should be pointed out that earlier researchers had already noted similar trends in the population of the Oguz period. Thus, L.G. Vuich recorded the almost complete absence of children's bones in the population buried in the burial mound of Sarkela-Belaya Vezha ^{[9, p. 444]}.

M.A. Balabanova has repeatedly pointed out the underestimation of child mortality rates in groups of the early Middle Ages ^{[4, p. 30]}. In the work devoted to the survival strategy of nomadic societies of antiquity and the Middle Ages, the researcher found that the frequency of occurrence of children in pre-Mongol burials does not exceed 6.5% ^{[5, p. 17]}.

The low representation of children in the burial mounds of nomads of the X-XI centuries does not characterize the population of this time as a group with signs of a normal paleopopulation, in which the percentage of child mortality should usually be more than 30% ^{[26, p. 72; 20, p. 294; 17, p. 261; 6, p. 133]}. The explanation of the current situation in the nomadic groups of the Eastern European steppes of the Early Middle Ages should be sought either in models of selectivity in the implementation of the funeral rite, or in the use of other forms of burial for certain categories of the population, for example children.

The indicators of the average age of death are close to the values demonstrated by early medieval groups and nomads of the XIII-XIV centuries from the territory of the Lower Volga region. The sample of oguz differs by the average values of this indicator. Men have a slightly lower age of death compared to other medieval groups. While the age of women is slightly higher. Most likely, these minor differences are caused not by changes in the lifestyle of nomadic groups, but by the small number of compared series (Table 2). In general, earlier M.A. Balabanova noted that when analyzing the sex and age structure of the medieval population of the Lower Volga region, the groups have similar indicators of the average age of survival, being in the range of 32.5-37 years ^{[4, p. 30; 5, p. 17]}.

The analysis of the occurrence of dental pathologies showed the absence of dental caries in a series of nomads of the X-XI centuries, low frequencies of abscesses and enamel chips. At the same time, high values of tartar, signs of periodontal disease and degenerative changes in the mandibular joint are observed. The revealed complex of pathological conditions brings the studied series closer to the nomadic cultures of the Lower Volga region of previous chronological periods, both the Early Middle Ages and the Early Iron and Bronze Ages ^{[22; 23; 25]}. The specific set of pathologies of the dental system described above in the nomads of the Oguz period is manifested in connection with the dominance of meat and dairy products rich in protein in the diet. This pathological complex was already early recorded in groups specializing in a meat-and-dairy diet during the Bronze Age in the Dnieper and Kuban regions ^{[13, p. 106]}, in cattle breeders of the Andronovo culture from the south of Western Siberia ^{[14, p. 90-91]}, in the Aimyrlyg Scythians ^{[34, p. 141-142]}, in cattle breeders of Eurasia since the Neolithic before the Early Iron Age ^{[29, pp. 150-151]}. The revealed features of the condition of the dental system of the Oguz are confirmed by the data of written sources, which describe the usual food of nomads-"guzzov", consisting of milk and meat ^{[18, p. 129]}.

At the same time, it should be noted that in terms of the incidence of caries, the group of nomads of the Oguz period differs significantly from the nomadic and sedentary population of the Golden Horde period ^{[24, p. 218]}. Probably, during the X-XII centuries, the traditions of using a large number of flour products for food had not yet penetrated the territory of the Lower Volga region, but were subsequently introduced by the Mongols at the beginning of the XIII century.

Relatively low frequencies of inflammatory processes and markers of micronutrient deficiency in the body are most likely a consequence of the socio-political situation in the region at this time. The low population density in the steppe zone prevented the spread of specific infections in the nomadic environment. At the same time, it cannot be said that the life of the Oguzes took place in ideal conditions, and they were not exposed to stress. It is very noteworthy that the population of the X-XI centuries from the territory of the Lower Volga region recorded insignificant rates of infection. Despite the fact that the description of the lifestyle by Ahmed ibn Fadlan draws us a rather deplorable state of the sanitary situation in a nomadic environment. Thus, an Arab traveler and writer points out that the guzzas are not cleaned of either excrement or urine, and are not washed with water, ... especially in winter ^{[18, p. 126]}. However, the occurrence of markers of iron deficiency anemia, protic hyperostosis, traces of inflammatory processes, as well as the presence of signs of enamel hypoplasia in more than a third of the studied individuals indicates that nomads of the X-XI centuries were exposed to physiological stress.

Thus, the presence of traces of bone porosis of the facial part of the skull in two adolescents, along with porotic conditions, may indicate that the group was characterized by periods of prolonged hunger.

Compared with other nomadic groups of the Middle Ages, the series of the X-XI centuries is characterized by underestimated indicators of the occurrence of signs of cold stress – 53%. The distribution of values for this feature has statistically significant differences in the series between the sexes. The expected vascular reaction of the "orange peel" type is more common in men. However, the average prevalence of this condition in the total group reflects a large number of women in the series, in whom markers of cold stress are rarely recorded.

Against the background of the medieval series of the Lower Volga region, the Oguz time group is characterized by high values of total injuries. In general, injuries among the population at this time are monotonous. These are injuries to the cranial vault, nasal injuries and one case of tibial fracture.

It should be noted that among the Oguzes from the Verkhne Pogromnoye and Nikolskoye burial grounds, M.A. Finkelstein similarly noted high incidence of injuries. They are also recorded on the materials of the nomadic burial ground of Sarkel-Belaya Vezha. The revealed injuries among the nomads of the Lower Volga region of the X-XI centuries may be the result of a tense social situation. Thus, M.A. Balabanova associated the gender and age specifics of the nomadic pre-Golden Horde population with frequent military clashes that took place at that time in the Eastern European steppes ^{[5, p. 17]}. In the written sources of Ahmed ibn Fadlan and al-Idrisi, the Oguzes are noted as skilled archers and horsemen who actively participated in military clashes ^{[18, p. 130; 15, p. 222]}.

The fact that the nomadic lifestyle had a serious impact on the physical condition of the body of the population of the Oguz period is indirectly indicated by the high incidence of deforming arthrosis. This observation deserves special attention for the reason that traces of specific changes on the bones and spine were identified by M.A. Finkelstein ^[30] and D.G. Rokhlin ^[28].

In conclusion, it should be noted that of the 19 examined skulls of adult individuals, flattening of the occipital bone was recorded on 6. The characteristic changes in the skull were caused by an unintentional artificial deformation of the occipital (lullaby) type. Most likely, the Oghuzs practiced the custom of putting some children in a cradle of the "beshik" type, which became widespread among the Turkic peoples ^{[16, p. 37; 24, p. 215]}.

Conclusion.

The revealed features of the sex and age composition of the study group (absence of children) and pathological conditions (the spread of signs of exposure to low temperatures, the absence of caries, high incidence of injuries and signs of premature deterioration of the skeleton) confirm the ideas of Persian and Arab authors about the Oguz as a people who lead a nomadic lifestyle.

For the population of the X-XII centuries. The Lower Volga region was characterized by a specific diet based on milk and meat, which most likely prevented the spread of caries, despite the lack of basic hygiene in a nomadic environment.

The presence of markers of inflammatory processes and porotic conditions on the bone remains of the studied group indicates poor sanitary conditions in Oguz. However, the low population density in the Lower Volga steppes probably prevented the widespread spread of infections among nomads.

Periods of famine were typical for the population of this time, as evidenced by cases of bone malformation in adolescents and the spread of such a condition as enamel hypoplasia. A part of the population, especially men, was exposed to cold stress.

The high frequency of traumatic injuries in the studied series of the X-XI centuries indicates an unstable socio-political situation in the Lower Volga steppes during the Oguzo-Pecheneg period.

Table 1. Age and gender characteristics of the X-XI centuries group.

Table 2. The main paleodemographic indicators in the series of the Middle Ages of the Lower Volga region.

^[1] The number of individuals in the series

Table 3. Frequency of occurrence of pathological conditions in the population from underground and underground graves of the X-XI centuries.

Table 3 (continued).

Table 4. Indicators of the occurrence of pathological conditions in the series of medieval nomads of the Lower Volga region.

Figure 1. Localization of archaeological sites from which the materials used in the study originate. 1. Bykovo; 2. Verbovsky III; 3. Kilyakovka; 4. Kolobovka IV; 5. Malyaevka V; 6. Novy Rogachik; 7. Pervomaisky VII; 8. Solodovka I; 9. Staritsa; 10. Rakhinka; 11. Rubrezhny II.