To Postcranial Palaeopathology of the Population of Gonur-depe (Southern Turkmenistan). Preliminary Report

Papers on Anthropology. — 2008. — XVII. — pp. 169–183.The results of palaeopathological researches of a small osteological sample (29 skeletons) from the Gonur-Depe (South–East Turkmenistan) excavation – one of the largest Bronze Age archaeological sites of Central Asia are considered. Anthropological materials from the capital of the ancient country Margush – Gonur-Depe, concerning pathologies of the skeletal system (including pathologies of postcranial skeleton) are studied insufficiently. The same remark concerns the Bronze Age materials of Central Asia as a whole.
The basic group of the pathologies noted in a series, became various diseases of joints and the backbone. On their frequency the Gonur sample essentially surpasses later series from the necropolis Buston VI (Southern Uzbekistan). The conclusion about the raised physical activities on an axial skeleton of farmers of ancient Margiana is made. The absence of cases of a fighting traumatism (noted traumatic damages have a household character) allows us to conclude that this was a peaceful ‘agrarian’ population. The genetic anomalies noted on skeletons, probably, mark related communications between individuals.