Anthropological Types of the Caucasus

The anthropological types of the Caucasus refer to the variations in physical anthropology distributed among the populations of the Caucasus region. The population of the Caucasus is distinguished by traits of the Europoid [Caucasoid] race. It is generally characterized by dark hair, dark or mixed eye coloration, a sharply prominent and convex nasal bridge with a slightly depressed nasal base, and a heavily developed tertiary hair cover. Mongoloid traits in the Caucasus are observed only among the Nogais and the Turkmens.

According to all anthropological classifications, the peoples of the Caucasus belong to the southern branch of the Europoids, also known as the Great Indo-Mediterranean race. However, a unified classification of the Caucasian peoples does not exist to this day. Divergences begin with the major Southern Europoid race itself. N. Cheboksarov and M. Abdushelishvili term this major Southern Europoid race the Indo-Mediterranean, whereas V. Roginsky and M. Levin categorized it lower, as a minor race.

Further differences emerge in the division of the southern branch into minor races. V. Bunak identifies the Mediterranean and Pamir-Alpine races within the southern branch. According to M. Abdushelishvili, the population of the Caucasus is represented by the Anterior Asian [Near Eastern], the Mediterranean-Balkan, and a Caucasian variant of the Indo-Pamir race. According to N. Cheboksarov, the minor races are the Indo-Pamir, Anterior Asian, Mediterranean, and two contact minor races—the Atlantic-Black Sea and South Indian. Regarding the specific anthropological types within the Caucasus, M. Abdushelishvili classifies them as: the Colchian, Iberian, Caucasioni, Adyghe, Caspian, and Anterior Asian (comprising the Assyrioid and Armenoid) types.

Differences among these groups are distinguished by body height, the hair cover, and the convex nasal bridge forms, which characterize the Great Indo-Mediterranean race to a higher degree and the representatives of the Anterior Asian race to a lesser degree.

Literature: Абдушелишвили М. Г., Антропология древнего и современного населения Грузии, Тб., 1964; Рогинский Я. Я., Левин М. Г., Антропология, М., 1978; Чебоксаров Н. Н., Основные принципы антропологических классификаций, წგ.: Происхождение человека и древнее расселение человечества, М., 1951.

L. Bitadze