The medieval Bolgar population according to craniology data. Preliminary results according to the materials of 2010– 2013 excavations

Preliminary results of anthropological analysis of new series materials from the excavation 2010–2013 medieval Bolgar necropolises in 2010–2013 are presented in the article. According the cranial program 152 skulls (80 male and 72 female) were studied and grouped into five series. Skulls from the cemeteries located in the southern part of the Bolgar settlement (necropolis near the former airport and excavation 174 (CLXXIV)) are morphologically similar. They are generally characterized by mezocranial shape of the skull, gracile face constitution and weakened prominence of the nasal bones. The series from cemeteries of northern part of the settlement (necropolis at Commemorative mark and excavation trench 191 (CXCI)) are also typologically similar, but described by different craniological complex. It is characterized by brachycranial skull shape, wider and higher face combined with a large angle of the nose. The mixed series from mausoleums shows racial differences by sex assignment (men – caucasians, women – mongoloid). Comparative analysis of intergroup cranial series has once again confirmed the thesis of an inhomogeneous anthropological structure of the medieval Bolgar population that is probably due to its various ethno-cultural and ethno genetic origins