Морфологическое описание костных останков знатного воина из скифского погребения с правобережья нижнего Днестра
Morphological characterization of the human skeletal remains from a noble Scythian burial on the right bank of the Lower Dniester

Summary/Abstract: The results of a comprehensive morphological (craniological, odontological, osteological and paleopathological) analysis of human skeletal remains from a military Scythian burial near the village of Purkari, on the right bank of the Lower Dniester, are presented. The skeleton belonged to a 35-45 y.o. strong-built man of short stature, who, based on the character of the bone surface roughness, was an active horseback-riding warrior. The skull has clearly pronounced western (Caucasoid) traits, most of which are in good statistical agreement with the craniological traits observed in Scythians from the North Pontic region. Among its characteristics are a large transverse diameter of the skull, low orbits and an expressed horizontal profiling of the face. The teeth size and morphology also fit to the western (Caucasoid) odontological complex. Morphological abnormalities have been recorded and include traumatic lesions on the outer surface of the cranium, “orange peel” appearance (vascular responses) on the superciliary arches, asymmetry in the enamel surface morphology of mandibular molars, interdental spaces in the anterior area of the maxilla and the mandible.

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