Bioarcheological Study of Late Bronze and Early Iron Age Materials from the Kuchak Burial Ground (Armenia)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52575/2687-0967-2026-53-1-5-29Keywords:
Armenia, Kuchak, Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, craniology, cranioscopy, odontology, osteology, paleopathologyAbstract
The work is dedicated to the study of skulls from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age discovered at the Kuchak burial site (Armenia). The research methodology involved visual examination of skeletons, measurements, descriptions and radiography. The study provides craniological, cranioscopic, odontological, and osteological characteristics, and identifies certain diseases recorded in the skeletal remains. Clear traces of unintentional head deformation (tump-line deformation, cradle deformation) were noted in individuals. The odontological complex was found to be of the southern gracile type characterized by a high level of reduction oft he hypoconus of the second upper molars. At the individual level, we analysed the total size and shape of the body of an average adult. The structure of the paleopathological profile of the sample is dominated by inflammatory diseases. Overall, the analysis of limited anthropological material allows us to conclude that the inhabitants of Kuchak led a sedentary lifestyle in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages, which is confirmed by the presence of various inflammatory changes on the bones.
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Khudaverdyan A.Yu. 2016. Radicular Dens Invaginatus in Late Bronze Age in Armenia. Bulletin of the International Association for Paleodontology. 10(2): 52–59.
Khudaverdyan A.Yu. 2018. Tumpline Deformation on Skulls from Late Bronze and Early Iron Age Armenia: A Cause of Enigmatic Cranial Superstructures? Mankind Quarterly. 59(1): 8–30.
Khudaverdyan A.Yu. 2021. Bronze and Iron Ages Warriors from the Qarashamb Burial Ground: Anthropological and Paleopathological Perspective. Bulletin of the International Association for Paleontology. 15(2): 83–97.
Khudaverdyan A.Yu., Yengibaryan A.A., Khachatryan H.H., Hovhanesyan A.A. 2022. Warrior Burial of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age: The Phenomenon of Women Warriors from the Jrapi Cemetery (Shirak Province, Armenia). International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. 32(2): 524–535.
Lovejoy C.O., Meindl R.S., Pryzbeck T.R., Mensforth R.P. 1985. Chronological Metamorphosis of the Auricular Surface of the Ilium: A New Method for the Determination of Adult Skeletal Age at Death. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 68: 15–28.
Meindl R.S., Lovejoy C.O., Mensforth R.P., Carlos L.D. 1985. Accuracy and Direction of Error in the Sexing of the Skeleton: Implications for Paleodemography. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 68: 79–85.
Oehlers F.A.C. 1957. Dens Invaginatus. Part I: Variations of the Invagination Process and Association with Anterior Crown Forms. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, Endodontology. 10: 1204–1218.
Oehlers F.A. 1958. The Radicular Variety of Dens Invaginatus. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, Endodontology. 11: 1251–1260.
Ortner D.J., Putchar W.G.J. 1981. Identification of Pathological Conditions in Human Skeletal Remains. Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology. V. 28. Washington: Smithonian Institution Press, 479 p.
Polat S., Aksoy E., Serin G.M., Yıldız E., Tanyeri H. 2011. Incidental Diagnosis of Mastoiditis on MRI. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 268(8): 1135–1138.
Standen V., Arriaza B.T., Santoro C.M. 1997. External Auditory Exostosis in Prehistoric Chilean Populations: A Test of the Cold Water Hypothesis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 103: 119–129.
Stuart-Macadam P. 1992. Anemia in Past Human Populations. Diet, demography and disease. Changingperspectives of Anemia. New York, 151–170.
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