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Paleoanthropological Remarks on Skeletons from Neolithic Cyprus.
by
Lilian Karali-Yannakopoulou1 and Anastasia Tsaliki2
1As. Professor of Environmental Archaeology, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Athens - Greece
2 Doctoral researcher in Bioarchaeology, Dept. of Archaeology, University of Durham- UK
Although thousands of pages have been dedicated to the history, the monuments and the artifacts of Cyprus, only a few pages focus on ecofacts and especially on skeletal remains leaving palaeopathological evidence.
In Prehistoric Cyprus, from the Early Neolithic period to the end of the Bronze Age, numerous sites have been discovered. Burials are quite abundant and in many different types: free burials, pit burials, chamber burials, and, sometimes, skeletal remains in probable connection with vessels.
In general, the bones are badly preserved due to both environmental and human factors. However, some cases of palaeopathological interest have been observed from various Cypriot prehistoric burials.
Relatively few publications have reports on bones (human and animal) and even fewer provide data on palaeopathology. Photos are very rare.
2 The Neolithic period
Excavations on Prehistoric Cyprus do not provide detailed information about skeletal remains. In the past, faunal and anthropological remains were not always considered interesting and worthy of a thorough examination. Nowadays, the climatic and general environmental conditions of the island do not help the preservation of skeletal material. In many cases, ecofacts are discovered in bad condition.
Human remains have been found from all the phases of inhabitation of the island. The following study aims to present a general reference to human remains mainly from the Neolithic period.
As far as the Mesolithic period (about 8500 BC) is concerned, the human presence is obvious by the remaining tools and animal bones at the rock shelter of Aetokrymnos in Akrotiri area. Among them appear the extinct species of a Pygmy Elephant and a Pygmy Hippopotamus hunted and consumed by the nomads and hunters inhabitants of the site (Hunt 1990, Simmons and Reese 1993).
As far as the Neolithic period is concerned very important faunal and human remains were found at the site of Khirokitia where many skeletal remains have been discovered and studied. Burials have been found within the settlement and in most cases they were placed under the house floor. The bodies were placed in pit graves in contracted position. Instances of multiple burials, such as double and triple ones, demonstrate that adult mortality was frequent at the last phases of inhabitation. The burials at Khirokitia constitute a characteristic case of deliberate skull deformation in vivo, which renders the study and the measurements of the cranium difficult. They are more intense on infants and females. The average age of death was about 33 years for men and 35 years for women. The men’s height was about 161,4cm and 151cm for women. (Pearson Formula) (Angel 1953).
Their teeth, probably because of soft food, were found in quite good health. Human remains from Neolithic Cap Andreas-Kastros supply palaeopathological research with evidence for teeth health and cultural bonds between the inhabitants of this site and the site of Khirokitia. The teeth of some skulls have been worn out to the root and in most cases people had very bad dental health. On all the discovered skulls deliberate deformation was observed. This resulted after strong pressure on the occiput and the frontal (Soliveres 1981).
The same custom is also known from the site of Kalavassos-Tenta from where more about the pathology and the burials will be known as soon as the study of this material is published. (Todd 1985).
From Filia-Drakos A there is evidence for the burials of two young girls (11-14 and 15-19 years old) and of another young boy but the chronology of the grave is quite unsafe (Niklasson 1991).A great deal of evidence on people and customs is provided by the remains from the Sotira-Teppes site. There have been found fragments of 8 craniums with no signs of deformation. The average age of death for men was about 36. It has been possible to determine parental relations among three individuals. It seems that the human remains belong to a group quite closed genetically to the exterior relations and influences. The measurement of the cephalic index (almost 77) constitutes a proof for a quick micro-evolutionary change. It has been observed a change from the strongly marked brachycephalic index of Early Neolithic people to the dolichocephalic of the latest periods (Angel 1961). Unfortunately no evidence is available from the Neolithic site of Agios Epiktitos-Vrysi where only two human bones and two human teeth have been found (Niklasson 1991).
An inhumation and a few human bones and teeth come from Kantou-Koufovounos site. Two pit graves dug under the house floor and some scattered osteological material provide evidence about infant and adult burials (Mantzourani 1997, Karali 1996 and 2000).
3. Conclusions
The burials discovered do not represent the whole population of the island, although they provide evidence for inhabitation and mortuary customs from the early periods for a quite permanent local population, characterized by common practices: as cranial deformation, inter marriages and probable links with the populations of Asia Minor. The inhumation prevails and the dead is laying on the right side in contracted position. In most of the cases there is only a primary burial and no cremation is attested. There are cases of genetically close groups and some indications about teeth health and food.
Neolithic man’s attitudes and beliefs concerning death are a matter for supposition and speculation. Certainly the placement of funerary offerings implies a belief in some kind of existence after death. It could be suggested that Neolithic man regarded death as a kind of sleep. The heavy stone (or stones) placed on the head (and sometimes the body) as well as the skulls which are in certain cases separated from the body (Niklasson 1991) attest a kind of “necrophobia” and of specific mortuary practices.
Although only a few elements are available on the palaeopathology of the prehistoric inhabitants of Cyprus, they provide quite a good picture, which needs to be completed by future research. The practice of skull deformation is uncommon to the Aegean. The examination of the preserved teeth indicates a differentiation of dental health and food preparation from site to site (Mantzourani 1997). The culture and the people of Neolithic Cyprus were not lost for ever in the catastrophic earthquake that stuck Cyprus about the end of the fourth millennium B. C. The archaeological and anthropological research bring them back to life.
Notes:
Paper prepared for the XIII European Palaeopathology Meeting, Chieti (18-22
Sept. 2000) Italy.
Abstract: Journal of Paleopathology (J.o.P.) 11 (2) 1999: 61 (Photos are adapted from Fischer 1986)
Illustrations:
Enkomi: LCII female, 42 years. Metopic suture
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