Author(s): Évinger, S., Bernert, Zs., Bíró, A., Vollmuth, K. & Kustár, Á.
Title: In search of the skeletal remains of the Kazakh Khan Abulkhair (1693–1748): General anthropological examination and craniofacial reconstruction on two possible candidates excavated from Khan Molasy site
Year: 2013
Volume: 105
Pages: 291-312.
Abstract: This paper summarises the results of the general anthropological examination and
craniofacial reconstruction of two skeletons from objects #92 and #178 of the “Khan Molasy” necropolis,
a burial site situated in the Aiteke Bi region of Aktobe Province, Republic of Kazakhstan.
Th e hypothesis proposed by archaeologists was that one of these two skeletons could have belonged
to Abulkhair Khan (1693–1748), leader of the Junior Jüz between 1718 and 1748 in present day’s
western Kazakhstan. Aim of the anthropological examination was to help identify the skeleton of
Abulkhair Khan. As a result of the general anthropological examination, neither skeleton can be
excluded or be clearly identifi ed with Abulkhair Khan, though #92 was considered a somewhat
stronger candidate. Th e aim of the craniofacial reconstruction was to visualise Abulkhair Khan,
since there was not any properly detailed authentic portrait or illustration of him preserved for the
succeeding generations. With the help of anatomic-sculpting craniofacial reconstruction method
we were able to reanimate two faces from the 18th century, that were of mongoloid anthropological
type and in all probability the #92 belonged to Abulkhair Khan. With 15 figures and 5 tables.Keywords: identification, Abulkhair Khan, anatomic-sculpting method, craniofacial reconstruction, skeletal remains
Subject: anthropology
Journal: Annales historico-naturales Musei nationalis hungariciJournal abbreviation: Annls hist.-nat. Mus. nat. hung.ISSN: 0521-4726Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, BudapestEditor(s): Merkl, O., Matskási, I. & Fuisz, T. I.