This article presents a comparison of the temporal dynamics of biological indices in two groups of contemporary rural adult population, that distinguished according to the degree of traditional culture «modernization». Khalkha Mongols, that were examined in four aimaks of Mongolia, preserved, at the time of the survey, the traditional way of life. Chuvash population was studied on the territory of Chuvashia and Bashkortostan. In these groups, professional and economic culture, family structure, ethnic culture and ethnopsychology have transformed since the 1920’s. Intergroup comparisons were performed according to the following criteria: the rate of hand bones age-related changes (OSSEO method); age of menarche; body length; shoulder breadth. As a result, it was established that in populations that preserved a traditional way of life, a maturation and an ageing of population was slow. Secular changes of age of menarche in women and changes of total body size in both sexes were not detected in the rural Khalkha Mongols. Chuvash population, since the 1930’s, has demonstrated accelerated secular changes of main physical dimensions. The rate of hand bones age-related changes in the Chuvash groups was much higher than in the Mongolian populations. According to the authors, the found differences were determined by the parameters of social stability in those territories.

Проведено сравнительное изучение временной динамики ряда морфофизиологических признаков у взрослого сельского населения с разными темпами онтогенеза, определяемым по скоростям созревания и старения скелета кисти.