Morphogenetic Connections of the Early Bronze Age Populations from Mongolia from Craniofacial Morphology Perspective

In this paper, we present the results of the craniometric study of Afanasievo
\nand Chemurchek (Khemtseg or Hemtseg) archaeological cultures from the territory of
\nMongolia. Male crania of the Afanasievo culture from the central regions of Mongolia are
\ncharacterized by a proto-European complex of traits of Eastern European origin. Among the
\ngroups of the Afanasievo culture of south Siberia, they are most similar morphologically
\nto the series of crania from the transboundary region of the southern Altai. For the first
\ntime, we analyzed the craniological materials of the Chemurchek culture from the Early
\nBronze Age in Western Mongolia. Our study revealed a significant morphological difference
\nbetween the Chemurchek culture population and the earlier Afanasievo culture population
\nof South Siberia and Central Asia. From an anthropological perspective, the Chemurchek
\nculture population is characterized by Asian features. They share close similarities with the
\npopulations from the northern regions of Mongolia during the Neolithic period. Additionally,
\nthey also bear resemblance to the populations of Serovo and Glazkovo cultures from the
\nCircumbaikal region during the Neolithic-Bronze Age periods. We have noticed a certain
\nsimilarity in the physical characteristics of early Bronze Age populations from south Siberia
\nand central Asia. This similarity may indicate a common ancestral background among
\nthese populations. The range of physical diversity among ancient populations in Mongolia
\nencompasses the entire spectrum of variation seen in the northern part of Eurasia during
\nthe Neolithic and early Bronze Ages, concerning the main ethnic and genetic lineages of
\nhumankind