The article outlines results of paleoecological and cranial non-metric traits analysis of the cranial sample from Altyn-depe, which is an ancient proto-urban center of the Bronze Age in the Central Asia. A high prevalence of dental diseases such as dental caries and dental calculus as well as anemic conditions were found in the sample. The distribution of stress markers points towards the similarity between Altyn-depe and Gonur-depe (proto-urban centre of Murghab oasis, Turkmenistan) samples. Low frequencies of parodontopathies, enamel hypoplasia, dental and cranial traumas, that are combined with an increased prevalence of caries, clearly distinguish Altyn-depe population from samples of “steppe” archeological cultures, e.g. Andronovo culture from Altai. A correspondence analysis of the cranial non-metrics shows that Altyn-depe expectedly gathers together with Gonur samples, while being completely different from the “steppe” groups. From a paleoenvironmental point of view the similarity of those samples in terms of prevalence of cranial anomalies might be explained by an interplay between subsistence strategy (agriculture, mainly cereals consumption) and geochemical situation of the area that is inhabited by those groups.

Изучаются краниологические материалы населения Алтын-депе (Туркменистан).