Paleopathology and the Study of Ancient Remains
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Paleopathology and the Study of Ancient Remains Michael R. Zimmerman
INTRODUCTION Paleopathology, the study of disease in ancient remains, is aimed at improving our understanding of the evolution of diseases and their interaction with human biologic and social history (Aufderheide & Rodriguez-Martin, 1998; Brothwell & Sandison, 1967; Ortner & Aufderheide, 1991). Pathogenic organisms, environmental factors, and patterns of disease evolve just as do larger organisms, including hosts and vectors of disease. There is evidence, however, for considerable stability in some host–parasite relationships. Similar parasitic worms have been found in Egyptian mummies and modern Egyptians. Such historical perspectives are necessary to prepare us for changes in disease incidence and for new diseases, such as Legionnaire’s disease and AIDS (Zimmerman, 2001). Evidence of ancient disease is obtained from historic records, works of art such as paintings, pottery effigies, and figurines, religious statuary, figures and faces on coins, skeletons, and mummies. Many diseases leave little or no direct mark on the bones and pseudopathologic changes can be produced by erosive forces or animals chewing on bones. Although lesions in archeological specimens represent only a small proportion of the total morbidity, the incidence of disease of a population, there are valid reasons for such studies. Certain characteristics or anomalies are useful as genetic markers. Evidence of traumatic injuries can give information on the occupational or military orientation of the group under study. Infectious diseases provide inferences on the general health status of the population.
A major consideration in dealing with ancient material is that modern patients with skeletal pathology present one with symptoms and signs, whereas archeological material presents one with a bone that has either a hole or a bump. The diagnosis of skeletal lesions is properly based on history, radiological findings, and pathology, but we rarely have adequate history in dealing with ancient skeletal material, and pathology is generally confined to the gross appearance, as microscopy is highly technical (Schultz, 2001). One other caution is the paradox that skeletons showing pathology are usually those of relatively healthy individuals. Unhealthy individuals die very quickly, before they have time to develop skeletal lesions. Mummies are bodi
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