Post by Kukul-Kan on Nov 23, 2003 9:24:19 GMT -5
Pygmies are commonly associated with the short populations that live in the middle of Congo, but small people aren’t just confined to the African jungles.
Pittard on Swiss Pygmies
Translated from Pittard. E. , Les Races et l’Histoire, 1924, pp. 168-169.
Before carrying on, we should talk about a human group, whose influence isn’t considerable to the Swiss ethnic pool, but whose presence cannot be ignored, we’re talking about the Pygmies. Neolithic Switzerland had a very small sized population that lived spread in different point of the Alpine Geography. We’re not talking about physically degenerated people, who suffered from pathological problems along their physical development, but about normal people. A race that has been found in other countries as well.
Pygmy remains have been found in several Cantons; in Guérande (Valais), in Moosedorf(Berne), in Schweizersbild and in Dachsenbühl(Schaffhouse) and in Camblande(Vaud). Members of both genders have been found in these “graves”. Their number isn’t as big as to obtain an acceptable mean stature.
Very short statures have been recorded (it has to be taken into account we’re just dealing with adults), for example, 1.33 m. in a woman from Ergolz(Bâle-Campagne). In the Neolithic necropolis of Schweizersbild, Kolleman recorded an average stature of 1.424 m. (the shortest one was 1.35 m. while the tallest 1.50 m.) in three adult remains. Moreover, Schenk recorded the minimum stature of 1.356 m. in the reconstructed remains of a woman in Chamblandes.
How can these ancient Swiss Pygmies be explained? Where did they come from? In 1894 Studer and Bannwarth suggested the Mesocephalic Pygmies from Chamblandes had a Mediterranean origin, based on the Sea shell ornaments that were found with the remains. However, their hypothesis was immediately attacked.
The presence of Pygmies in Neolithic Europe creates passionate debates that are even related to the origins of Europeans themselves. The introduction to Europe of these populations of probable African origin might have taken place middle Pleistocene.
Paul Rivet on American Pygmies
Translated from Rivet. P., Les origins del’homme américain”, 1957, pp.145- 151.
Regarding his first travel to Venezuela, Niclaus Federmann points out the Ayamán are characterized by a stature that doesn’t exceed the 120 cm. The explorer points out these Amerindians weren’t pathologically affected.
…<br>
In 1920 Gustaf Bolinder met for the first time a Colombian Pygmy tribe from Perijá called the Maraká, who had taken their name from a nearby river.
www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1069596529.JPG
Bolinder with a normal sized man and a Pygmy
…<br>
Statures of Shirapa Amerindians from Venezuela taken by J.M Cruxent:
Males(eleven individuals):
Max. Stature: 1.52 m.
Min. Stature: 1.26 m.
Average: 1.392 m.
Females (twelve individuals):
Max. Stature: 1.40 m.
Min Stature: 1.22 m.
Average: 1.3275 m.
…<br>
www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1069596202.JPG
Shirapa Pygmies
Pittard on Swiss Pygmies
Translated from Pittard. E. , Les Races et l’Histoire, 1924, pp. 168-169.
Before carrying on, we should talk about a human group, whose influence isn’t considerable to the Swiss ethnic pool, but whose presence cannot be ignored, we’re talking about the Pygmies. Neolithic Switzerland had a very small sized population that lived spread in different point of the Alpine Geography. We’re not talking about physically degenerated people, who suffered from pathological problems along their physical development, but about normal people. A race that has been found in other countries as well.
Pygmy remains have been found in several Cantons; in Guérande (Valais), in Moosedorf(Berne), in Schweizersbild and in Dachsenbühl(Schaffhouse) and in Camblande(Vaud). Members of both genders have been found in these “graves”. Their number isn’t as big as to obtain an acceptable mean stature.
Very short statures have been recorded (it has to be taken into account we’re just dealing with adults), for example, 1.33 m. in a woman from Ergolz(Bâle-Campagne). In the Neolithic necropolis of Schweizersbild, Kolleman recorded an average stature of 1.424 m. (the shortest one was 1.35 m. while the tallest 1.50 m.) in three adult remains. Moreover, Schenk recorded the minimum stature of 1.356 m. in the reconstructed remains of a woman in Chamblandes.
How can these ancient Swiss Pygmies be explained? Where did they come from? In 1894 Studer and Bannwarth suggested the Mesocephalic Pygmies from Chamblandes had a Mediterranean origin, based on the Sea shell ornaments that were found with the remains. However, their hypothesis was immediately attacked.
The presence of Pygmies in Neolithic Europe creates passionate debates that are even related to the origins of Europeans themselves. The introduction to Europe of these populations of probable African origin might have taken place middle Pleistocene.
Paul Rivet on American Pygmies
Translated from Rivet. P., Les origins del’homme américain”, 1957, pp.145- 151.
Regarding his first travel to Venezuela, Niclaus Federmann points out the Ayamán are characterized by a stature that doesn’t exceed the 120 cm. The explorer points out these Amerindians weren’t pathologically affected.
…<br>
In 1920 Gustaf Bolinder met for the first time a Colombian Pygmy tribe from Perijá called the Maraká, who had taken their name from a nearby river.
www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1069596529.JPG
Bolinder with a normal sized man and a Pygmy
…<br>
Statures of Shirapa Amerindians from Venezuela taken by J.M Cruxent:
Males(eleven individuals):
Max. Stature: 1.52 m.
Min. Stature: 1.26 m.
Average: 1.392 m.
Females (twelve individuals):
Max. Stature: 1.40 m.
Min Stature: 1.22 m.
Average: 1.3275 m.
…<br>
www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1069596202.JPG
Shirapa Pygmies
No wonder they are extinct ;D