Physical Anthropology of Cyprus

Abstract of AAPA 2004 Meeting

Interregional gene flow in the eastern
Mediterranean: A Cypriot melting
pot?

N.K. Harper, Department of Anthropology
and Ethnic Studies, University of Nevada-
Las Vegas.

Classical archaeological interpretations
of population change in Cyprus cite the
wholesale migration of Mycenean Greeks
into the eastern Mediterranean fleeing
Doric invasions. Previous research into
the relative biological relationships of
Cypriot populations has shown evidence of
sharp change in craniofacial morphology
toward the end of the Bronze Age (circa.
1050 BC) exhibiting strong regionalism
within the island (Harper and Moore-
Jansen 2003, Harper 2003). For this study
the cranial measurements of 384 individuals
from 14 sites from Cyprus, Greece,
Crete, Anatolia, the Levant and Egypt are
used to address the question of admixture
within Cyprus during and after the
Bronze Age. RMET 5.0 (Relethford and
Blangero, 1990) is used to test minimum
genetic differentiation and relative biological
distance and MANTEL 3.1 is used
to test the effect of geographic and temporal
distances in relation to the estimated
biological distance. Preliminary results
show regional variation within Cyprus
during the Bronze Age (FST = 0.022) and
suggest that specific populations (Enkomi,
Melia) remain relatively isolated while
other populations within Cyprus
(Kourion-Bamboula, Lapithos) share close
affinity with western Anatolian and Greek
mainland populations, with possible gene
flow from Egypt. These results contradict
the assumption that Enkomi was a cosmopolitan
center harboring multiple populations
and raises intriguing questions
concerning the importance of Egyptian
groups within Cyprus. The post-Bronze
period exhibits a lower overall FST (.003)
suggesting higher admixture specifically
with Levantine and Greek groups. The
results for the post-Bronze period are
consistent with the advent of large-scale
trade and colonization by Greek and
Phoenician groups.

Link to book of abstracts (pdf)

Posted by Dienekes at January 19, 2004 06:39 PM | PermaLink