Anthropological and Population Genetic Characterisation of the Estonians ( with Retrospect to Baer ’ S

Leiu Heapost & Mart Viikmaa Baer’s observations In his doctoral dissertation Morbis inter Esthonos Endemicis (1814) Karl Ernst von Baer presented anthropological observations about the Estonians. Baer notes first of all that the Estonians belong to the peoples of Finnic origin as they are very close to the Finns who live in Finland, and there is a certain similarity between Estonians, Lapps, Mordvinians, Cheremissians and other tribes of Finnic origin (Baer, 1976:22). Further Baer describes the body-build and mentality of the Estonians, trying to find a connection between these two characters. He writes that the body of Estonians is rather racy than skinny. Most of the Estonians are of medium stature; the face is mostly quite bloated, indolent, without peculiar features, and pale. Hair is mostly blond, often white in childhood; black hair with darkish complexion also occurs. The physical strength is quite average, temperament, in general, phlegmatic with a slight inclination to melancholy. That might be the reason why their body is not particularly receptive to diseases and as concerns their mind, it only rarely loses its usual nature. In the proper sense of the word, only very few of the Estonians are melancholic – those whom he noted above as the ones with black hair. As a matter of fact, they are short of stature, but with a firmer and stronger frame. They are more serious, obstinate and reserved than the majority, who are phlegmatic. While the face of the latter expresses dullness, the expression of melancholics is that of concealed indignation. There is a great difference, however, between the Estonians living in the northern part of the country and those in the environs of Dorpat (Tartu). The latter exceed the former by the stature and their face which expresses frankness is more easily understandable than that of their fellow countrymen living in the vicinity of Reval (Tallinn); their face is not bloated, they are a little more active, not so slow, and more friendly towards the people of another class (Baer, 1976:29–30). Further on it appears that this characterisation applies to Estonian males. Women are of quite a different kind. Baer writes that the national characterisation given above can scarcely be attributed to Estonian girls. They are more vivacious, impetuous, more cheerful and singing while working, the thing that men particularly do not do. Their hair is more yellowish than that of men and none of them has black hair (Baer, 1976:30). These descriptions, of course, reveal the difficulties, which a German-born researcher came across in communication with Estonians. It is also clear that these characteristics are based on comparatively limited estimations and not on measurements or other kind of statistical evaluations. But we would like to point out Baer ́s sharp-sighted observations indicating that there are various anthropological types among the Estonians, while substantial regional differences also occur.