The Study On The Human Bones Excavated In Saensayi Cemetery Urumchi, Xinjiang

This paper is a study of human bones of 27 tombs excavated in Saensayi cemetery, Urumchi Xinjiang. First, describing the structure of graves and funeral objects unearthed here and citing the excavators's result of 4 chronological phases in this cemetery. Most human bones came from the second phase, which belongs to early Iron Age, circa 700 B.C, according to isotope carbon dating. All features of graves together with funeral objects buried inside are reliant on some form of nomadic pastoralism.Sex and age examination always is the first work during human bones study. Before examination, all methods used here were enumerated. Among these methods, some from Chinese osteologists, some from Western anthropologists. Their applicability, veracity and results were contrasted. At last, the best methods came out and the sex and age of the 27 corpses were concluded.The teeth of Saensayi cemetery are very valuable to be discussed. Their dental attrition levels were contrasted with that of vicinity and of farming societies. At the same time, all pathological phenomenons were observed, including dental calculus, caries, periodontal disease, supernumerary teeth, teeth premortem loss, enamel hypoplasias, vertical crack on teeth and cracked enamel and lingual mandibular exostoses. From their dental hygeian situation, we can see some advantages of nomadic life in health over farming and sedentary life.Three corpses have trauma which are interesting enough to be studied. By describing the shape and size of outer traumas, the weapons which cause them and their direction were discussed. It is observed that some kind of osteitis caused the trauma of tibia. All these reflect a certain extent social conflict at that time.Racial type is the most important content of studying archaeological remains. The nonmetric characteristics of 26 skulls were described and their various sizes were measured. From these data, we can find the features of collected skulls. Comparaing with that of the three human races together with that of the branch of Mongoloid, most skeletal materials shows distinct inclination to Mongoloid.