Illuminating the processes of microevolution: A bioarchaeological analysis of dental non-metric traits from Armenian Highland.

Non-metric dental traits provide useful information for assessing temporal changes as well as for assessing biological relationships among living and ancient populations. Dental morphological traits were employed in this study as direct indicators of biological affinities among the populations that inhabited the Armenian Highland from the Late Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age to Modern times. Sixteen morphological features in 2643 permanent adult teeth from 41 samples coming from 5 areas within the Armenian Highland were scored. Both Zubov's standard protocol and Turner's ASUDAS were employed. Given the paucity of odontological data for this area, this study contributes to the dental non-metric traits' history of Armenian Highland and is a summary compilation and comparison of previously conducted work where non-metric traits were used in relation to dental reductions within the ancient Caucasus and Near East. The chronological sequence is considerable and spans from the Late Chalcolithic-Bronze Age to the Modern Age. It is suggested that offspring of ancient inhabitants of Armenian Highland continued to inhabit this area during the Late Iron Age, Classical/Late Antiquity, Middle Age and Modern period. This scenario indicates genetic continuity and gene flow between populations. Such a perspective is supported by the archaeological and molecular findings.

Trepanation in the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age in Armenia.

In this study, trepanations in ancient Armenia are discussed. In total, 10 cases were studied. Seven were male, 1 female and 2 were children. Age of the individuals ranged from 6 to 65 years. Among nine cases of surgical trepanations four had possible healing signs. In these cases the individuals showed evidence of previous trauma to the skull or infection (mastoiditis, tuberculosis), suggesting that the operation had been carried out for therapeutic purposes. This provides further support for the suggestion that trepanation (or trephination) was performed primarily for therapeutic purposes, and because of cranial infection or injury. In one case, a symbolic trepanation could imitate real penetration into the skull cavity. This study shows that archaeological sites of Armenia and anthropological materials have a potential to supply essential information on ancient history of the Armenian people and the region.