У статті на антропологічному матеріалі розглядається питання можливої участі вихідців з
кочових груп у формуванні антропологічного складу населення України доби пізнього середньовіччя.
The anthropological type of Ukrainians of Cossack
Era was formed on the Old Rus anthropological substrate.
They were mostly descendants of the inhabitants
of former lands of Drevlyani, Volynyani, Tivertsy
and partly Galichani. They were characterized by a
combination of a broad face with a dolichocranial or
mesocranial skull. People from non-Slavic groups, including
ones from the steppe zone, also took part in
the formation of the anthropological composition of the
late medieval population of Ukraine. Mostly it was a
population that was genetically related to the groups
that had ancient roots in the Turkic-speaking world.
It was characterized by a Zlivkin morphological complex
(brachycranium, a relatively broad face that had
a weakened horizontal profile at the top). The type is
Caucasian, it was widespread in large areas occupied
by the Saltovo-Mayatska culture. It was characteristic
for the population of Khazaria, the medieval cities of
Crimea, the plains of the North Caucasus, the southern
Bulgarians. For the population of Volga Bulgaria, the
appearance of this morphological complex is associated
with the movement of the early Bulgarians genetically
related to the Sarmatians.
The type continued to dominate in some areas during
the Golden Horde and after the Golden Horde Age.
Its presence is recorded in the south of Ukraine and
in Moldova. The infiltration of the descendants of this
population into the Slavic environment of Ukraine took
place in different ways.
The source territories for it could be the Lower
Dnieper and the Prut-Dniester interfluve. The time of
infiltration is most likely the second half of the 13th—
15th centuries. Single skulls which are characterized by
a tall face with a sharp horizontal profile and can be
associated with people from the North Caucasus are
recorded in the late medieval cemeteries of Ukraine.
Skulls with clearly defined Mongoloid features practically
are not found in the late medieval Christian cemeteries
of Ukraine. Groups of nomads with these features
(from Cumans to Nogai Tartars) are anthropologically
differ as far as possible from the population of Cossack
Era Ukraine, which was buried in Christian cemeteries.
