Studying Infectious Disease in

ArchaeologyKatie Grow

June 20, 2012

Infectious Disease in Archaeology

Earliest evidence of infectious disease in archaeological contexts– Human Remains– Iconography– Literary Sources

Advanced-stage tuberculosis spondylitis

Public water sources increases infectious pathogen spreadEgyptian Medical Text

Difficulties Studying Infectious Disease in Archaeological Contexts

• Non-specific skeletal markers• Lack of soft tissues evidence• Not all infections leave markers on hard

tissues

Infectious Diseases in Past SocietiesHard tissue markers

Tuberculosis

Syphilis

Leprosy

Infectious Diseases in Past SocietiesNo hard tissue markers

• Plague• Cholera• Parasitic infections

Importance of studying Infectious Disease

Leper Colony Facility

The Roman Necropolis The Prehistoric Cave

Relevance…

References

Aufderheide, A and C. Rodriguez-Martin1998 The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Paleopathology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Nelson, K. and C. Williams2006 Infectious Disease Epidemiology: Theory and Practice. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury, MA.

Zink, E. Molna, R. Motamedi, G. Palfy, A. Marcsik, and A. Nerlich2006 Molecular History of Tuberculosis from Ancient Mummies and S

Skeletons. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 17 380-391.