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.