Ethnic groups and biological diversity in medieval Spain: analysis of a Jew Necropolis from Sevilla

The skulls and mandibles of adults individuals from a Jewish necropolis of Sevilla (La Buhayra), (V–IX Cent. A.D.) have been analyzed. The results show that Sevillian Jews, both males and females, present narrow skulls with a notable dolichocrany. Sexual differences in both the height of the skull and the mandible robustness have been found. A comparison between Sevillian Jews and other Iberian samples from different epochs (Neolithic-Bronze to Centuries A.D.) has been carried out by means of a principal component analysis taken only into account the variability between groups. Results of the analysis showed a certain degree of biological differentiation between Sevillian and Catalonian Jews (XI–XIVth Centuries A.D.) which can be justified not only by the geographical distance and the temporal gap between the two groups, but also by the intrinsic heterogeneity of Jews (Nathan, 1961a, b; Nathan et al., 1963; Arensburg et al., 1980). The existence of some degree of biological variability between several ethnic-religious groups (Jew, Christians and Moslems) can be detected although they share a common Mediterranean background. Paper presented at the 4^th congress of the European Anthropology Association (Florence, Sept. 1984).