Early Medieval Burial from the Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenia): Anthropological and Taphonomic Analysis
УДК 930.2 ББК 63
Abstract
The article presents a comprehensive analysis of an individual burial discovered in the Cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenia), dated to the Early Middle Ages (4th century AD). Methods of physical anthropology, craniology, odontology, as well as taphonomic and paleopathological analyses were applied. It was established that the remains belong to a male aged 50-59 years, exhibiting signs of pronounced physical activity characteristic of horseback riding. Pathological changes in the spine and enthesopathies indicative of chronic overload were recorded. Special attention was given to traces of thermal exposure on the bones, allowing the interpretation of this case as a possible ritual or violent cremation. The burial is considered within the context of religious and cultural practices of early Christian Armenia and may be associated with the veneration of a martyr. The data contribute to the reconstruction of burial rites and the anthropological profile of the population of Armenia in the 4th century AD.
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