A biological assessment of continuity and change in the Neolithic populations of Upper Nubia

Maines Emma (1, 2) , Pascal Sellier (1)

1 EA - Éco-Anthropologie
2 UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

The human remains from the Kadruka cemeteries, housed in the SFDAS and National Museum of Khartoum and the University of Geneva, represent a unique collection for studying the evolution of Neolithic populations and funerary practices from Upper Nubia. If the analysis of non-metric anatomical variation (specifically the dental discrete traits) points towards an overall continuity and homogeneity throughout the Neolithic, mortality profiles, non-specific stress markers, and other palaeopathological and occupational indicators provide evidence signalling significant biological evolution, as well as cultural changes, for example the exclusion of younger infants within burial areas including the remains of older children and adults.

Keywords: Burial-ground, Population, Bioarchaeology, Biological anthropology, Paleodemography, Discrete traits, Neolithic, Nubia, Sudan; Burial-ground, Population, Bioarchaeology, Biological anthropology, Paleodemography, Discrete traits, Neolithic, Nubia, Sudan

Domains: Biological anthropology; Archaeology and Prehistory; Social Anthropology and ethnology; Demography; Religions

Maines Emma, Pascal Sellier. A biological assessment of continuity and change in the Neolithic populations of Upper Nubia. Vincent Rondot et al. (dir.). 14th International Conference for Nubian Studies, Musée du Louvre/Sorbonne Université Presses, In press. ⟨hal-03513750v2⟩