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Reestablishing rigor in archaeological parasitology
1School of Natural Resources, Hardin Hall 719, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0987, United States.
International Journal of Paleopathology
|December 5, 2017
Summary
Archaeological parasitology, now paleoparasitology, risks misdiagnosis and loss of context. Integrating archaeological context is crucial for accurate analysis of ancient infections and human behavior.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Parasitology
- Paleontology
Background:
- Archaeological parasitology emerged mid-20th century, integrating specialists for dietary, medicinal, and environmental analyses of infection patterns.
- Coprolite analysis in the 1970s focused on cultural determinants of parasitism, ensuring diagnostic rigor through interdisciplinary training.
Observation:
- The field shifted to
- paleoparasitology
- near the late 20th century, focusing on parasite distribution.
- Post-2000, this specialization led to increased misdiagnosis and neglect of dietary, environmental, and medicinal factors.
Findings:
- Paleoparasitology's narrow focus risks detaching from archaeological context.
- Destruction of samples for solely parasitological analysis leads to loss of crucial ancillary data.
- Lack of integration with archaeobotany and archaeopalynology hinders comprehensive understanding.
Implications:
- Paleoparasitology risks reduced value to archaeologists due to loss of contextual information.
- Reintegrating interdisciplinary approaches is vital for accurate paleoparasitological research.
- Future research must balance specific parasitic analysis with broader archaeological context.
