Description
Eastern variety of Shanid, weakly influenced by Veddid. Typical for the plains and river valleys of Indochina, especially from North Thailand to Laos. Probably migrated South from China in historic times, soon outnumbering older types.
In recent centuries Sinid elements have caused heavy admixture. Still relatively pure in Lao, Northern Thai, Tay, Sibala, etc. More mixed in Dai, Akha, Brau, Vietnamese, South Chinese, Malay people, and Cambodians. This type represents a relatively recent southward expansion that brought more northern characteristics to mainland Southeast Asia.
Physical Traits
Height: Medium
Build: Macro-mesoskelic, ectomorph
Skull: Hyper-brachycephalic
Nose: Relatively high, meso-leptorrhine
Face: Relatively long, more elongated than Palaungid
Face flatness: Not as flat as Sinid
Face shape: Round, refined and gracile
Eyes: Relatively large, slanting, sometimes with Mongolian fold
Skin: Yellowish light to medium brown
Hair: Straight, sometimes wavy
The East Shanid type exhibits a refined Southeast Asian appearance with medium height and ectomorphic build. The hyper-brachycephalic skull combined with a relatively long face creates a distinctive profile that balances northern and southern traits. The relatively high, meso-leptorrhine nose represents an intermediate form between broader tropical types and narrower northern types. The face is more elongated than Palaungid but still maintains roundness with gracile, refined features. Large, slanting eyes that sometimes display the Mongolian fold indicate partial northern influence while maintaining Southeast Asian characteristics.
Literature References
Eickstedt (1937) named and described the East Shanid variety. Lundman (1967) included it in Malaid, Biasutti (1967) in South Mongolid, Hooton (1946) and Cole (1965) in Malay-Mongolid.
