Umjetno deformirane lubanje su fenomen koji se još od prapovijesti javlja u različitim kulturama na različitim geografskim područjima. Pretpostavlja se da je razlog postojanja ovakve trajne promjene tjelesnih karakteristika potreba za isticanjem određene socijalne grupe od ostatka populacije. Na nalazištu AN10A – NČ JASA u Hrvatskoj 2015. otkriveno je nalazište Ostrogota koje datira iz 5., 6. stoljeća i među 11 pojedinaca utvrđeno je da njih šestero ima umjetno deformiranu lubanju. U ovom radu morfološki smo obradili skeletni materijal s nalazišta s posebnom pažnjom posvećenom pojedincima s deformiranom lubanjom, tj. načinima i tipovima na koji je do prisutne deformacije došlo. Analizom STR lokusa pokušalo se utvrditi srodstvo između pojedinaca s deformitetom i onih bez njega. Radna pretpostavka je bila da će pojedinci s deformiranom lubanjom biti u međusobnom srodstvu, što bi poslužilo kao dokaz za pretpostavku postojanja rituala kao izraza socijalnog statusa. Zbog slabe kvalitete drevne DNA i neadekvatnih uvjeta klasičnih laboratorija u kojima je analiza izvršena, dobivenim rezultatima nije bilo moguće utvrditi srodstvo pojedinaca. To navodi na potrebu ponavljanja eksperimenta u laboratoriju specijaliziranom za rad s drevnom DNA kao i upotrebu metoda sekvenciranja nove generacije u kombinaciji s analizom polimorfizama DNA različitih od STR lokusa.

Artificially deformed skulls occurr in different cultures and various geographic areas since prehistoric times. It is assumed that the reason for the existence of such a permanent change of physical characteristics was the need to distinguish certain social groups from the rest of the population. Site AN10 - NČ JASA 2015 in Croatia revealed the the presence of an Ostrogoth cemetery that was in use from the 5th or 6th century AD. Among the 11 individuals recovered, six have had artificially deformed skulls. In this work we have analysed skeletal material from the site with special attention to individuals with a deformed skull and the ways and types in which present deformation occurred. Analysis of STR loci was attempted to determine kinship between individuals with deformed skulls and the ones without it. Our hypothesis was that individuals with deformed skull would be related one to another which would serve as proof for the assumption that the ritual was an expression of elevated social status. Due to the poor quality of ancient DNA and inadequate conditions in the classical laboratory where the analyses was performed, it wasn’t possible to determine whether there is, in fact, a kinship relationship between individuals with deformed skulls. Concerning this the repetition of the experiment in a laboratory specialized for the analysis of ancient DNA is needed. Additionally, use of a next generation sequencing methods combined with the analysis of DNA polymorphisms different from STR loci could be valuable.