Anthropological and Ethnic Profile of the Kyrgyz. Part - 4

Morphological Appearance of Modern Kyrgyz

Anthropological studies of modern Kyrgyz have been conducted over the years by L.V. Oshanin (1927, 1931, 1953, 1953a, 1957-1959), A.I. Yarkho (1933, 1934, 1947), N.N. Miklashevskaya (1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1959a, 19596, 1959b, 1964), and G.F. Debets (1948, 1956, 1959). It has been established that they are the most Mongoloid part of the population of Central Asia, closely related to the Kazakhs. They predominantly exhibit a southern Siberian type and, to a lesser extent, a Central Asian type.

In general, the morphological appearance of modern Kyrgyz can be characterized as follows. Height (body length) has average values ranging from 161 to 169 cm, and they have a stocky build. With larger head sizes, in terms of shape, Kyrgyz are classified as brachycephalic. The face is high and wide with significantly protruding cheekbones. The forehead is mostly wide, moderately sloping, with a moderately prominent brow ridge. The nose is quite large, often straight, with a low bridge. Hair and eye pigmentation is mainly dark, but there is a significant number of individuals with lighter pigmentation of hair and eyes (from 17% to 45% in the Tian Shan region).

The Mongolian fold of the eyelid is quite common, but its frequency varies among different groups. Body and facial hair development is weak.

In the anthropological composition of the Kyrgyz, in addition to the aforementioned variants of the southern Siberian and Central Asian races, there are also Europoid traits.

The Europoid admixture is most pronounced among the Kyrgyz population of the Fergana Valley. To a lesser extent, it is present among the Kyrgyz of the Talas, Chui, Alai valleys, and Pamir. The most Mongoloid in type are the Kyrgyz of the Issyk-Kul regions.

Studies conducted using various methods and anthropological programs have revealed that the southern Siberian race is heterogeneous. Three morphological variants are distinguished within it, differing from one another in the degree of expression of Mongoloid features: the Kazakhstan, the Pre-Tian Shan, and the Altai-Sayan variants. The Pre-Tian Shan variant, characteristic of modern Kyrgyz, occupies an intermediate position between the less Mongoloid Kazakhstan variant and the most Mongoloid Altai-Sayan variant.

Thus, the formation of the anthropological composition of modern Kyrgyz, as well as other peoples of Central Asia, has a centuries-old history. Numerous local and incoming tribes participated in the formation of their morphological appearance at various stages. Over the last two and a half millennia, populations of both Europoid and Mongoloid types have inhabited this territory. The Saka and early Usun tribes were characterized by the northern variant of the race of the Central Asian interfluve, with the exception of the Sakai of the Pamir, who, on the contrary, have a southern Europoid basis, which includes both gracile and mature variants.

Mongoloid features have been recorded to a small extent since the middle of the 1st millennium BC among many Saka nomadic tribes. During the Usun period, the population was Europoid, but the presence of Mongoloid admixture within it is beyond doubt. According to our research, the previously held opinion that Mongoloid features are more pronounced among the nomads of Tian Shan than among other nomads of Central Asia has not been confirmed.

In the medieval period, the population was also heterogeneous in composition. It included Europoids, who came from the western regions, the Sogdians, the main layer of the local population, which had a Europoid-Mongoloid appearance, and quite Mongolized populations. Exceptions are certain areas of Chui and Talas, where Europoid populations lived compactly during antiquity, the early and developed Middle Ages.

In the composition of the modern population, there is a large proportion of the Mongoloid complex, which has southern Siberian (Tian Shan variant) and Central Asian origins. Various variants of the Europoid race also contributed to the formation of the anthropological appearance of the modern population (Khodzhayov, Khodzhayova, 2001).

The question of the place and time of the formation of the anthropological complex characteristic of modern Kyrgyz is of great interest. In this regard, an intergroup analysis of all available fossil anthropological material from the territory of Kyrgyzstan was conducted. First of all, it should be noted that the main complex of features characteristic of the Kyrgyz is recorded in the Turkic (6th-8th centuries) and Karakhanid periods. The territory of the Alai, Talas, Chui valleys, and southern Issyk-Kul can be considered the place of their formation.

This is evidenced by materials from the burial mounds of Kurgak and Karabeit in the Alai, Beshkarakchi in the Talas, and Tashbashat in the Chui valleys. A series from the 12th century from Kandyube (ancient Ton) (southern Issyk-Kul) can also be included in this group.

In earlier stages of the formation of the anthropological and ethnic appearance of the Kyrgyz, the tribes of the Saka and early Usun of Tian Shan participated. It is likely that the role of other groups of Saka, as well as Sogdians with Europoid appearance, in the formation of the anthropological features of the Kyrgyz was small. At the same time, numerous archaeological materials from the early medieval period confirm the significance of Sogd's contribution to the material culture of various regions and areas of Central Asia. Sogdian achievements in material and spiritual culture became "cultural standards that most corresponded to the norms of early feudal society" (Masson, 1977). Sogdian cultural traditions are clearly evident during this period, alongside the local original culture, in the territory of Kyrgyzstan, as well as in historical and cultural areas such as Chach, Ustrushana, and others.

Nevertheless, paleoanthropological materials from the beginning of the 2nd millennium AD do not confirm the influence of Europoid Sogdian settlers on the morphological appearance of the Kyrgyz. Apparently, the incoming Sogdian groups existed quite isolated, mixed little with the local population, which allowed them to preserve their morphological and racial characteristics.

The results of the study of craniological materials from the 6th to 10th centuries from territories located east of Kyrgyzstan confirm the literary data on the participation of the Turkic population of Altai and the Kuznetsk Basin, Turks and Uyghurs of Tuva, Turks of Khakassia, and "Yenisei" Kyrgyz of Turkic times in the formation of the Kyrgyz. The series obtained from the burial mounds of these regions are characterized, as noted above, by the features of the southern Siberian and Central Asian races.

Historical Anthropology of the Kyrgyz. Part - 3