On the adaptation to the environment and lifestyle of highland and flatland groups of medieval Alans in Southern Russia

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Abstract

Stress markers are defined as skeletal signs that reflect the degree of environmental influence and adaptation to this influence. One of the most notable examples is the porotic change of the upper wall of the orbit, which is commonly referred to as cribra orbitalia. In this study comparative analysis of the prevalence of cribra orbitalia in individuals from medieval populations of the North Caucasus middle mountains and of the plain region of the Central Russian Upland (predominantly in the groups of Alanian and Saltovo-Mayaki archaeological cultures) was conducted. Cribra orbitalia was, on average, three times more frequent in the remains of flatland regions’ populations than in the populations of middle mountains. This suggests that the former was subject to a more significant negative environmental impact, which could have included combined stresses related to climatogeographical and biotic environmental parameters, including the recent migration of the Alanian population from the foothills to the plains. Analysis of ancient DNA was conducted on selected individuals from both groups. Two cases of Plasmodium vivax infection were identified in teeth samples of two individuals buried in the Mayatskoye burial ground.

About the authors

A. A. Perevozchikova

Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology of Lomonosov Moscow State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: allarevik@gmail.com
Moscow, Russia

N. N. Goncharova

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: goncharovann@my.msu.ru
Moscow, Russia

A. A. Kritskiy

LLC 'Biotechnology Campus'

Email: akrickiy@biotc.ru
Moscow, Russia

A. O. Ivanova

LLC 'Biotechnology Campus'

Email: aivanova@biotc.ru
Moscow, Russia

E. I. Botsmanov

LLC 'Biotechnology Campus'

Email: ebotsmanov@biotc.ru
Moscow, Russia

T. R. Tsedilina

LLC 'Biotechnology Campus'

Email: tsedilinat@gmail.com
Moscow, Russia

A. V. Pavlova

LLC 'Biotechnology Campus'

Email: anastassyapavl@gmail.com
Moscow, Russia

E. I. Klimuk

LLC 'Biotechnology Campus'

Email: eklimuk@biotc.ru
Moscow, Russia

K. V. Severinov

LLC 'Biotechnology Campus'; Institute of Gene Biology RAS

Email: kseverinov@biotc.ru
Moscow, Russia; Moscow, Russia

N. Y. Berezina

Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology of Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: berezina.natalia@gmail.com
Moscow, Russia

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