En el presente trabajo se comparan los resultados de la estimación de sexo en restos óseos humano... more En el presente trabajo se comparan los resultados de la estimación de sexo en restos óseos humanos antiguos de individuos adultos de la Patagonia central argentina (N=42) a partir de dos métodos: por una parte, el estudio de estructuras de la pelvis, el cráneo, el húmero, el fémur y la tibia; por otra, el análisis molecular de secuenciación masiva (Next Generation Sequencing), mediante herramientas bioinformáticas validadas para ADN antiguo. Los resultados mostraron que la concavidad subpúbica y el arco ventral de la pelvis, el proceso mastoides del cráneo y las fórmulas propuestas por Béguelin para fémur y húmero ofrecen las estimaciones del sexo más confiables en esta muestra de restos humanos arqueológicos de Patagonia central. Por el contrario, las estructuras de la tibia y el ancho bicondilar del humero y el fémur ofrecen resultados significativamente diferentes o con bajas asociaciones a los obtenidos por métodos moleculares. Futuros análisis deberán enfocarse en estudios simi...
Las enfermedades infecciosas fueron señaladas como la causa principal de muerte en las sociedades... more Las enfermedades infecciosas fueron señaladas como la causa principal de muerte en las sociedades pasadas. Sin embargo, hasta el momento son escasos los conocimientos acerca del modo en que afectaron a las poblaciones humanas del sur de Sudamérica. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar el impacto que las enfermedades infecciosas tuvieron sobre las poblaciones de cazadores-recolectores que habitaron Patagonia Austral, a partir de la identificación, descripción e interpretación de lesiones óseas en restos humanos del Holoceno medio y tardío (aproximadamente 5200-100 años aP). Se analizaron macroscópicamente 54 individuos hallados en 50 sitios arqueológicos, sobre los cuales se describieron presencia, localización, lateralidad, tipo de formación de hueso nuevo ( woven , lamelar, mixto) y distribución de las lesiones óseas. Se registraron lesiones diagnósticas y altamente compatibles con infecciones óseas en ocho (14,8%) individuos (sin diferencias entre sexos y edades), seis de los cuales (75,0%) provienen del sur de Tierra del Fuego. Cuatro individuos presentaron lesiones compatibles con osteomielitis y dos con tuberculosis (un no-adulto y un adulto). Esto último representa un hallazgo relevante para discutir la presencia de tuberculosis en poblaciones pasadas y su evolución en América. Los resultados presentados sugieren además que las evidencias de procesos infecciosos pueden ser recurrentes en análisis específicos sobre muestras esqueletales de cazadores-recolectores.
Un tema central en la arqueología de Mendoza ha sido la intensificación agrícola y sus implicanci... more Un tema central en la arqueología de Mendoza ha sido la intensificación agrícola y sus implicancias socioculturales sobre la salud de las poblaciones humanas. A pesar de los estudios bioarqueológicos realizados, son escasos los análisis sobre lesiones periapicales (LP) dentales que involucran aspectos teóricos y metodológicos recientes. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la prevalencia de las diferentes LP en individuos del Holoceno Tardío del Centro-Norte de Mendoza, y su posible relación con la transición dietaría. La muestra incluyó 26 cráneos de adultos correspondientes a poblaciones previas (Bloque Temporal I; ca. antes de 1000 años AP; n=20) y posteriores a la intensificación agrícola (Bloque Temporal II; ca. después de 1000 años AP; n=6). Se estimó la presencia y ubicación alveolar de LP (granulomas, quistes y abscesos crónicos). El 46,2% (12/26) del total de los individuos presentaron algún tipo de LP, donde un 92% (11/12) pertenece al Bloque Temporal I. En estos 12 inv...
Objective: This paper explores the history of TB in Argentina from the pre- Columbian period to r... more Objective: This paper explores the history of TB in Argentina from the pre- Columbian period to recent times in order to evaluate the impact of the industrialization (late 19th and early 20th centuries) on the increasing rates of this disease. Materials: Historical, paleopathological, and current epidemiological data were reviewed. Methods: Data were integrated under a paleopathological approach. Results: Skeletal evidence suggests the existence of TB before colonization. This is followed by two different periods of increasing TB rates: a probable but unconfirmed first stage, related to the contact between Europeans and natives during the 16th-18th centuries, and a second stage during the Industrial Revolution, from the 1880s to the 1950s, when it was finally controlled with the aid of chemotherapies. Conclusions: TB rates increased during industrialization, coincident and probably related to immigration, the disorganized growth of cities, and bad working conditions. Nowadays, TB is under control in the general population, but it remains an important health problem in areas with poor living conditions and in immunocompromised patients. Significance: This is the first study that integrates archaeological, historical and epidemiological data to acknowledge the pathway of TB in Argentina. Limitations: No skeletal evidence of TB from 19th and 20th centuries and from medical archives from sanatoria are available. Suggestions for further research: Further research needs to be conducted from these
The present study compares the results of sex estimation in ancient human bone remains of adult i... more The present study compares the results of sex estimation in ancient human bone remains of adult individuals from Argentine central Patagonia (N = 42) using two methods. On the one hand, the study of structures of the pelvis, skull, humerus, femur, and tibia. On the other hand, the biological sex estimated by means of molecular analysis (Next Generation Sequencing), using bioinformatic tools validated for ancient DNA. The results showed that sex estimations based on features of the pelvis (subpubic concavity and ventral arc), the mastoid process of the skull and the formulas proposed by Béguelin for humerus and femur were statistically similar to molecular results in this particular sample from Patagonia. In contrast, the estimations based on structures of the tibia and bicondylar width of humerus and femur were significantly different from molecular sex estimations. Further research needs to be conducted in order to test sex-estimation methods on subadult skeletons.
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a joint disease characterized by the detachment or separation ... more Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a joint disease characterized by the detachment or separation of an articular cartilage fragment and subchondral bone in joint epiphyses. It has been diagnosed in archaeological skeletons worldwide but scarcely studied in hunter‐gatherer skeletal remains. The aim of this paper is to analyse the variation of OCD in skeletons of past populations that lived in Southern Patagonia during the Late Holocene, which can be useful to improve our understanding about the effects of the mechanical demands in hunter‐gatherers. The overall prevalence observed in this sample (40.5%), higher than the data reported for current populations and mostly located in the shoulder of young and middle adult males of terrestrial and maritime hunter‐gatherers, suggests that physical activity involved in both economic strategies would have played an important role in the development of OCD. The contact with European colonizers does not seem to have produced differences in the prevalence of OCD, although more dated skeletons are needed to test this hypothesis.
Análisis comparativo de fórmulas de estimación de la talla en restos humanos de Patagonia Austral. Primeros resultados, 2020
La talla en restos humanos de poblaciones arqueológicas representa un importante indicador genera... more La talla en restos humanos de poblaciones arqueológicas representa un importante indicador general de la salud. Los enfoques para la estimación de talla son el anatómico y el matemático. El anatómico es considerado más exacto y no conlleva problemas de variabilidad interpoblacional, aunque su empleo se encuentra limitado por la necesidad de contar con una alta completitud esqueletal. El enfoque matemático, en cambio, utiliza ecuaciones de regresión que requieren la longitud de uno o más huesos largos. Sin embargo, se ha detectado alta variación en la relación entre la estatura real y los segmentos utilizados para estimarla. En Patagonia Austral, no existen fórmulas específicas para estas poblaciones, lo cual resulta en una baja comparabilidad de resultados y dificulta su selección al momento de estimar la talla. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar qué fórmulas predicen con mayor exactitud la talla en relación con las estimaciones del método anatómico. Los resultados indican que la mayoría de las fórmulas matemáticas proporcionan resultados similares a los resultados obtenidos con la fórmula anatómica. Además, para ambos sexos las fórmulas con mayor coeficiente de determinación tienden a agruparse de acuerdo con el o los huesos requeridos. Las estimaciones de talla más exactas corresponden principalmente a aquellas que emplean el fémur.
Several foodborne diseases have been described in coastal populations from the past, many of them... more Several foodborne diseases have been described in coastal populations from the past, many of them including parasitic infections related to marine diets. Considering this background, the strong relationship between hunter-gatherers from Patagonia and the marine species implies a possible source of parasitic infections and zoonotic risk. However, marine parasitic species have not been identified in archaeological sites from Patagonia so far. The aim of this paper is to propose the potential parasitic infections produced by the consumption of marine molluscs, fishes, birds and sea mammals by human populations from Patagonia during the Holocene, considering the current parasitic species identified in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. We searched in journal articles and book chapters for references of archaeological remains of molluscs, fishes, seabirds and marine mammals recorded in archaeological sites from the Atlantic coast below the 42nd parallel South. Afterwards, we surveyed all the macroparasites of marine origin identified by current parasitological research in the same species found in the archaeological record. We found that most of the marine species in the zooarchaeological record of Patagonia are currently hosts of many parasites. Some species of molluscs, fishes and pinnipeds are highly infected by larvae that are potentially hazardous for human health. Some of them are responsible for acute or chronic zoonotic diseases, with severe consequences depending on how the food was cooked, the amount of consumed parasites and the immune response of the host, in this case, humans. Fishes are host of several parasites related to anisakidosis and corynosomiasis. Sea lions species were also a potential source of the same zoonosis but also diphyllobothriasis. Molluscs are hosts of several parasitic species, but with less severe consequences for human health. On the other hand, birds are infected by adult parasites, without direct zoonotic importance. These findings, although limited by temporal and environmental variability, can provide a speculative overview about the potential influence of marine diets in the health of past hunter-gatherers of Patagonia, particularly if fishes, molluscs or marine mammals were consumed inadequately cooked.
This article reviews the most relevant data regarding evidence of stress and disease in native po... more This article reviews the most relevant data regarding evidence of stress and disease in native populations from Southern Patagonia and proposes future directions for paleopathological research. It focuses on the disease patterns in hunter-gatherer societies and the changes produced by contact and colonization. Studies of oral pathologies showa high frequency of dental attrition and low frequency of caries and antemortem tooth loss. Individuals with terrestrial dietary patterns show evidence of higher mechanical stress in the spine than those who participated in marine economies, based on the prevalence of Schmorl’s nodes and vertebral osteophytosis. Porotic hyperostosis is more prevalent in individuals who had a marine diet and is probably related to nutritional impairment and parasitic infections. A higher frequency of metabolic stress was identified in individuals who lived in missions, perhaps because of declining quality in diet, hygiene, and living conditions. Paleoparasitological studies identified several species of parasites associated with human skeletons and terrestrial fauna. Moreover, recent studies suggested that treponematosis and tuberculosis were present in Patagonia since at least 1000 years BP. Future paleopathological research should increase the size and quality of studied samples and apply new methods and interpretive criteria. Detailed research into infections, degenerative joint diseases, and trauma (including violence episodes) has rarely been conducted.
RESUMEN La osteoartrosis (OA) es una de las afecciones patológicas más comunes en las colecciones... more RESUMEN La osteoartrosis (OA) es una de las afecciones patológicas más comunes en las colecciones esqueletales. Se analizaron 24 individuos provenientes de sitios arqueológicos del Centro-Norte de Mendoza (Argentina) correspondientes al Holoceno tardío, con el objetivo de estudiar la presencia de OA en el esqueleto apendicular. Para ello se evaluó la frecuencia de lesiones en relación con el sexo, la edad, la cronología y la procedencia geográfica de los esqueletos. Los resultados preliminares muestran una alta prevalencia de OA (58,3%). No se registraron diferencias significativas con respecto a la edad y al sexo, aunque algunas articulaciones como hombros y codos podrían estar más afectadas en el sexo masculino. Los individuos asociados con momentos de intensificación agrícola no mostraron un cambio claro en el desarrollo de la OA. No obstante, se registró una mayor frecuencia de esta patología en articulaciones de los miembros superiores y una disminución en los miembros inferiores. Futuros análisis sobre muestras más amplias permitirán evaluar estas hipótesis. ABSTRACT Osteoarthrosis (OA) is one of the most common pathological conditions recorded in skeletal series. Twenty-four individuals from archaeological sites from Center-North region of Mendoza (Argentina), to late Holocene were analyzed, with the aim to study the presence of OA in the appendicular skeleton. For this, it was evaluated the frequency of lesions related to sex, age, chronology and geographical origin of the skeletons. The preliminary results showed a total prevalence of 58.3% of appendicular OA. No significant differences were observed between sexes and ages, although some joins, as shoulder and elbow seems to be more affected in men. No clear relationship between agriculturalist economy and OA were recorded in this particular sample. Nevertheless, more frequent of degenerative changes were registered in higher limbs and a decrease in lower limbs. Future analyses are necessary to test these preliminary hypotheses.
El estudio de los cambios entésicos en restos humanos de Argentina. Estado actual y avances futuros, 2019
RESUMEN
Durante la última década el análisis de los cam-bios entésicos se ha incluido como parte... more RESUMEN Durante la última década el análisis de los cam-bios entésicos se ha incluido como parte de las investiga-ciones bioarqueológicas de diversas regiones de Argentina. En este trabajo se presenta una síntesis de los principales resultados alcanzados hasta el momento y se proponen al-gunos caminos para los futuros estudios. Los resultados más recientes desarrollados en Argentina tienen en cuenta, en general, los conocimientos más actuales. Se identifican, sin embargo, tres aspectos a ser considerados: 1) las distintas PALABRAS CLAVE marcadores de estrés musculoesqueletal; bioarqueología; actividad física metodologías de registro empleadas; 2) el reconocimiento y control de los múltiples factores biológicos involucrados en los cambios entésicos, incluyendo la masa corporal, la talla y la robustez diafisial, además del sexo y la edad; y 3) la interpretación multifactorial de sus resultados. Se discuten los alcances que han tenido estos estudios en escalas locales y se proponen nuevos avances considerando interrogantes teóricos y metodológicos.
ABSTRACT Analysis of entheseal changes was included during the last decade as part of bioarchaeological research from different regions of Argentina. This paper presents a synthesis of the main results achieved so far in the study of entheseal changes of archaeological human remains from Argentina. The most recent research takes into consideration the most current knowledge. However, three aspects have to be taken into account: 1) the different recording methodologies; 2) the recognition and control of the multiple biological factors involved in entheseal changes, including body mass, body size, and the diaphyseal robus-ticity, in addition to sex and age; and 3) the multifactorial interpretation of the results. Local progress is discussed and future prospects are proposed, considering theoretical and methodological issues.
de acuerdo con una variedad de fuentes históricas, los habitantes de nombre de Jesús (1584), el... more de acuerdo con una variedad de fuentes históricas, los habitantes de nombre de Jesús (1584), el primer asentamiento europeo en el estrecho de magallanes, habrían padecido situaciones de desnu- trición y hambre, los cuales habrían llevado al fracaso de la expedición y la muerte de los pobladores. Los restos de este asentamiento permanecían en un halo de misterio por la ausencia de registro mate- rial. Recientemente se realizaron una serie de campañas arqueológicas dirigidas por la dra. m. Ximena senatore, que dieron como resultado el hallazgo de los restos del asentamiento nombre de Jesús y restos óseos humanos de algunos de sus pobladores. el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar y discutir las evi- dencias bioarqueológicas y paleopatológicas correspondientes a los restos óseos humanos hallados en el sitio arqueológico nombre de Jesús, primer asentamiento europeo en Patagonia austral, que permitan discutir las evidencias históricas. Los estudios consistieron en el análisis de lesiones patológicas de los restos óseos humanos hallados, tanto macroscópicas como a través de estudios radiográficos, tomográ- ficos y densitométricos complementarios que colaboraron en el diagnóstico diferencial. Los resultados muestran abundantes signos de stress nutricional y metabólico, acompañado de lesiones producidas por infecciones inespecíficas, que sustentan las hipótesis previas de malnutrición. este análisis posibilita por un lado conocer el estado de salud de los individuos que formaron parte de uno de los más grandes emprendimientos de colonización de la corona española y las causas de su fracaso. a su vez, resulta de interés como evidencia para evaluar uno de los primeros momentos de contacto aborigen-europeo y la posible introducción de patologías en Patagonia.
Low prevalence of caries, high stages of dental attrition (DA), and moderate frequency of antemor... more Low prevalence of caries, high stages of dental attrition (DA), and moderate frequency of antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) were found in skeletal remains of hunter‐gatherers from southern Patagonia. However, osteoarthritis (OA) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ), possible related to oral health, has not been studied so far. The influence of hunter‐gatherer living conditions on the development of TMJ‐OA was scarcely evaluated, and analyses of degenerative changes of TMJ in nonindustrialized groups are needed. The aim of this study is to analyse the association between degenerative changes of TMJ, oral disease, and palaeodietary patterns in skeletal remains of hunter‐gatherers from southern Patagonia. Degenerative changes of TMJ were recorded in 25 adult skulls of both sexes. Eburnation of articular eminence and/or mandibular condyle was considered as pathognomonic of OA. In the absence of eburnation, OA was diagnosed when two or more of the following lesions were identified: (a) new bone formation on joint surface, (b) new bone formation of joint margins, (c) porosity on the joint surface, and (d) modification of joint contour. In the studied skeletons, it was found that OA prevalence is 28%, similar to those observed in other hunter‐gatherer populations elsewhere. TMJ‐OA is mostly related to AMTL and older age, but no relation was found with caries and DA, sex, region, dietary patterns, and chronology. However, consumption of terrestrial resources in the diet cannot be discarded as a related factor. Further studies are necessary to explore the morphological variability of the mandible and its possible relationship with different diets and dental pathologies in these populations.
The odontoid process of the axis can be affected by congenital or acquired pathologies. While abn... more The odontoid process of the axis can be affected by congenital or acquired pathologies. While abnormalities such as os odontoideum, agenesis, and fractures are reported in archaeological remains, the abnormality of an elongated length of the odontoid process has not been described in the paleopathological literature. The aim of this paper is to evaluate two individuals with elongated odontoid processes from a skeletal assemblage from the B6 archaeological site (Mendoza, Argentina), and to discuss the possible etiologies of the condition, with particular attention given to the relation to trauma and Crowned Dens Syndrome (CDS), a condition characterized by the ossification of ligaments of the odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra.
Resumen:
La osteocondritis disecante (OCD) es una patología que afecta el cartílago articular y e... more Resumen: La osteocondritis disecante (OCD) es una patología que afecta el cartílago articular y el hueso subcondral en las epífisis articulares de humanos y otros mamíferos. A pesar de que su etiología es multifactorial, la presencia de esta lesión ha sido frecuentemente atribuida a microtraumatismos reiterados por los efectos de la actividad física sobre las articulaciones afectadas. Este trabajo involucra un primer paso en el estudio de esta patología en restos humanos de Patagonia Austral, la cual no fue analizada en forma sistemática. El objetivo es analizar la variabilidad de la OCD en un conjunto de restos humanos de 26 individuos adultos pertenecientes a sociedades de cazadores-recolectores de esta región durante el Holoceno medio-tardío (ca. 5200-70 años AP) y su posible relación con la edad, el sexo, la dieta, la cronología y el geográfica de procedencia. Se discute si su expresión está vinculada con los patrones de actividad física desarrollados por los grupos, en función de las prácticas económicas llevadas a cabo. La prevalencia general observada en esta muestra (42,3%), mayor a la reportada para poblaciones actuales, sugiere que la actividad física habría desempeñado un rol importante en el desarrollo de la OCD en al menos parte de las personas afectadas.
Abstract: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a pathology that affects the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone in the articular epiphyses of humans and other mammals. Although its etiology is multifactorial, its presence has been frequently attributed to repetitive microtrauma because of physical activity on the affected joints. This paper is a first step in the study of this pathology in human remains from Patagonia Austral, as it has not been systematically studied. The objective is to analyze the variability of the OCD in a sample of 26 hunter-gatherer adult individuals that lived in this region during the Middle-Late Holocene (ca. 5200-70 years BP) and its possible relationship with age, sex, diet, chronology and region of origin. The association between its expression and the patterns of physical activity developed in accordance with the economic practices, is discussed. The overall prevalence observed in this sample (42,3%), higher than that reported for current populations, suggests that physical activity would have played an important role in the development of OCD in at least part of the affected individuals.
Spondylolysis is a fracture of the pars interarticularis, the portion of the neural arch that lie... more Spondylolysis is a fracture of the pars interarticularis, the portion of the neural arch that lies between the superior articular facets and the inferior articular facets. Clinical evidence has suggested repetitive trauma to be the most probable cause, even though morphological weakness of the vertebra is probably also involved. Prevalence is between 3% and 8% in modern populations, while in archaeological samples it varies from 0% to 71.4%. Considering that very little data about this condition is available in past populations from the southern extreme of South America, the aim of this paper is to analyze the spondylolysis in a human skeletal sample from Southern Patagonia and, at the same time, to explore the prevalence of spondylolysis in archaeological contexts around the world to gain a better understanding of the results presented here. The Southern Patagonian skeletal series analyzed here showed a prevalence of 20%, with lower prevalence in the pre contact sample (11.1%) than in the contact period (23.1%). Skeletons from the Salesian Mission “Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria” showed a higher prevalence (25%) than the sample of skeletal remains recovered from outside the mission (20%), suggesting that changes in lifestyle of hunter-gatherers during contact could be implicated in the development of spondylolysis in this sample. A worldwide survey displays a wide range of prevalence figures in American and Asian samples and low diversity between African and European populations. Hunter-gatherers from Southern Patagonia showed similar values to those observed in other American samples.
RESUMEN. Este trabajo presenta los principales resultados y discusiones llevadas adelante durante... more RESUMEN. Este trabajo presenta los principales resultados y discusiones llevadas adelante durante el III Taller Nacional de Bioarqueología y Paleopatología, celebrado en la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata los días 19 y 20 de mayo de 2016. Durante la realización del taller se presentaron ponencias que versaron sobre el estudio de restos esqueléticos y dentales, focalizando en las ventajas, desventajas y factibilidad de la aplicación de los métodos y técnicas complementarias o alternativas. Las mesas de discusión se organizaron siguiendo diferentes líneas temáticas como Antropología dental; Paleopatología, paleoparasitología y tafonomía, donde se expusieron trabajos relativos al uso del cuerpo, alimentación, salud y alteraciones culturales; Análisis microscópicos y densitométricos, donde se presentaron los alcances y dificultades en la realización de estos estudios; y por último, Determinación del sexo, donde se analizaron muestras arqueológicas de individuos adultos y se realizaron propuestas para la determinación sobre restos de individuos inmaduros investigando colecciones documentadas. Independientemente de los temas específicos que fueron trabajados, se discutieron temas como la necesidad de definir criterios que contribuyan a que las instituciones encargadas de la guarda de las colecciones de restos esqueléticos ofrezcan autorización para el análisis con equipamiento específico y se argumentó la necesidad de enfatizar en la divulgación de los resultados de los estudios bioarqueológicos y paleopatológicos en ámbitos académicos y no académicos. ABSTRACT. This paper presents the main results and discussions carried out during the Third National Workshop on Bioarchaeology and Paleopathology, held at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of La Plata, on May 19-20, 2016. During the workshop, oral communications about the study of skeletal and dental remains were presented, focusing on the advantages, disadvantages and feasibility of the implementation of complementary or alternative research methods and techniques. The oral presentations were organized in scientific sessions along different thematic lines. The first session focused on Dental anthropology; the second one, that included expositions about Paleopathology, paleoparasitology and taphonomy, included research that discussed about the use of the body, health and cultural alterations. In the third session, concerning Microscopic and densitometric analysis, the scope and difficulties of conducting these studies were considered. Finally, the last session focused on Sex determination methodologies; in this case, archaeological adult samples were analyzed, and proposals for immature sex determination were conducted. During the meeting, the need to define criteria that contribute to the institutions responsible for the care of the collections of skeletal remains to provide authorization for analysis with specific equipment was expressed. Also, the need to emphasize the divulgation of the results of bioarchaeological and paleopathological studies in academic and non-academic areas was strongly argued.
The aims of this paper is threefold: 1) to explore the spatial and temporal variations in age-at-... more The aims of this paper is threefold: 1) to explore the spatial and temporal variations in age-at-death profiles of human remains from Southern Patagonia in order to test and discuss the hypothetical increasing demography during the late Holocene; 2) to evaluate probable biases in the skeletal samples derived from preservation issues, social organization features and/or mortuary behavior, and 3) to compare the results with those reported for other hunter-gatherer societies from Pampa and Patagonia regions, offering valuable insights about the age-at-death profiles and paleodemographic for other Southern South American hunter-gatherers with different social characteristics. Age-at-death profiles from Southern Patagonia below 50 S, corresponding to the middle-late Holocene (i.e., after ca. 5500 years before present-YBP-), were constructed from a skeletal series of 119 individuals. Sex and age distribution of the entire sample was firstly analyzed, and two other age-at-death profiles were thereafter built, dividing the sample by region (Santa Cruz/Magellan, Northern Tierra del Fuego and Southern Tierra del Fuego) and by chronology (5500e3500 YBP, 3500e1000 YBP, 1000e400 YBP and after 400 YBP). The results show an attritional profile with two peaks, the first one between 1.1 and 10 years-old and the other for the 20.1e35 age group. A low number of newborns younger than 1 year-old is observed. This could be the result of a low mortality rate for this age interval and a high parental care during the first period of childhood, although taphonomical and mortuary biases cannot be completely excluded. Adult males and females are similarly represented in each age category. Juvenile Index data are higher than 0.17 between 5500 and 400 YBP periods, suggesting population growth, with a particular demographic increase between 5500e3500 and 1000e400 YBP periods. During the contact period, fertility is dramatically reduced. The age-at-death profile is similar to other hunter-gatherer past populations from Pampa and Patagonia regions. Despite the differences regarding mobility strategies, social organization, demographic dynamics and mortuary behavior known for those societies, all profiles show a comparable bimodal attritional pattern, although some variation in the most represented age-groups and demographic growth is observed.
Las huellas de enfermedades en restos humanos son evidencias de la historia de la salud de las pe... more Las huellas de enfermedades en restos humanos son evidencias de la historia de la salud de las personas y las poblaciones.
SUMMARY Modification of the suprascapular notch into a foramen as a consequence of the ossificati... more SUMMARY Modification of the suprascapular notch into a foramen as a consequence of the ossification of the suprascapular transverse ligament is a well-known anatomical change. However, it was rarely considered by research in skeletal and cadaveric remains as a possible cause of Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment, a neuropathy that usually produces pain and weakness of the affected shoulder. This paper has the aim to present and to discuss a case of ossification of the suprascapular transverse ligament in a modern-era, possible archaeological male skeleton of 30-45 years old from the central coast of Patagonia, and a possible development of suprascapular nerve entrapment. Complete bilateral ossification of the superior transverse scapular ligament was identified. As no other morphological, traumatic or neoplastic lesions were found in the scapulae, physical activity is suggested as the cause of the ligament ossifica-tion in the skeleton, although epigenetic origin cannot be completely rejected.
En el presente trabajo se comparan los resultados de la estimación de sexo en restos óseos humano... more En el presente trabajo se comparan los resultados de la estimación de sexo en restos óseos humanos antiguos de individuos adultos de la Patagonia central argentina (N=42) a partir de dos métodos: por una parte, el estudio de estructuras de la pelvis, el cráneo, el húmero, el fémur y la tibia; por otra, el análisis molecular de secuenciación masiva (Next Generation Sequencing), mediante herramientas bioinformáticas validadas para ADN antiguo. Los resultados mostraron que la concavidad subpúbica y el arco ventral de la pelvis, el proceso mastoides del cráneo y las fórmulas propuestas por Béguelin para fémur y húmero ofrecen las estimaciones del sexo más confiables en esta muestra de restos humanos arqueológicos de Patagonia central. Por el contrario, las estructuras de la tibia y el ancho bicondilar del humero y el fémur ofrecen resultados significativamente diferentes o con bajas asociaciones a los obtenidos por métodos moleculares. Futuros análisis deberán enfocarse en estudios simi...
Las enfermedades infecciosas fueron señaladas como la causa principal de muerte en las sociedades... more Las enfermedades infecciosas fueron señaladas como la causa principal de muerte en las sociedades pasadas. Sin embargo, hasta el momento son escasos los conocimientos acerca del modo en que afectaron a las poblaciones humanas del sur de Sudamérica. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar el impacto que las enfermedades infecciosas tuvieron sobre las poblaciones de cazadores-recolectores que habitaron Patagonia Austral, a partir de la identificación, descripción e interpretación de lesiones óseas en restos humanos del Holoceno medio y tardío (aproximadamente 5200-100 años aP). Se analizaron macroscópicamente 54 individuos hallados en 50 sitios arqueológicos, sobre los cuales se describieron presencia, localización, lateralidad, tipo de formación de hueso nuevo ( woven , lamelar, mixto) y distribución de las lesiones óseas. Se registraron lesiones diagnósticas y altamente compatibles con infecciones óseas en ocho (14,8%) individuos (sin diferencias entre sexos y edades), seis de los cuales (75,0%) provienen del sur de Tierra del Fuego. Cuatro individuos presentaron lesiones compatibles con osteomielitis y dos con tuberculosis (un no-adulto y un adulto). Esto último representa un hallazgo relevante para discutir la presencia de tuberculosis en poblaciones pasadas y su evolución en América. Los resultados presentados sugieren además que las evidencias de procesos infecciosos pueden ser recurrentes en análisis específicos sobre muestras esqueletales de cazadores-recolectores.
Un tema central en la arqueología de Mendoza ha sido la intensificación agrícola y sus implicanci... more Un tema central en la arqueología de Mendoza ha sido la intensificación agrícola y sus implicancias socioculturales sobre la salud de las poblaciones humanas. A pesar de los estudios bioarqueológicos realizados, son escasos los análisis sobre lesiones periapicales (LP) dentales que involucran aspectos teóricos y metodológicos recientes. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la prevalencia de las diferentes LP en individuos del Holoceno Tardío del Centro-Norte de Mendoza, y su posible relación con la transición dietaría. La muestra incluyó 26 cráneos de adultos correspondientes a poblaciones previas (Bloque Temporal I; ca. antes de 1000 años AP; n=20) y posteriores a la intensificación agrícola (Bloque Temporal II; ca. después de 1000 años AP; n=6). Se estimó la presencia y ubicación alveolar de LP (granulomas, quistes y abscesos crónicos). El 46,2% (12/26) del total de los individuos presentaron algún tipo de LP, donde un 92% (11/12) pertenece al Bloque Temporal I. En estos 12 inv...
Objective: This paper explores the history of TB in Argentina from the pre- Columbian period to r... more Objective: This paper explores the history of TB in Argentina from the pre- Columbian period to recent times in order to evaluate the impact of the industrialization (late 19th and early 20th centuries) on the increasing rates of this disease. Materials: Historical, paleopathological, and current epidemiological data were reviewed. Methods: Data were integrated under a paleopathological approach. Results: Skeletal evidence suggests the existence of TB before colonization. This is followed by two different periods of increasing TB rates: a probable but unconfirmed first stage, related to the contact between Europeans and natives during the 16th-18th centuries, and a second stage during the Industrial Revolution, from the 1880s to the 1950s, when it was finally controlled with the aid of chemotherapies. Conclusions: TB rates increased during industrialization, coincident and probably related to immigration, the disorganized growth of cities, and bad working conditions. Nowadays, TB is under control in the general population, but it remains an important health problem in areas with poor living conditions and in immunocompromised patients. Significance: This is the first study that integrates archaeological, historical and epidemiological data to acknowledge the pathway of TB in Argentina. Limitations: No skeletal evidence of TB from 19th and 20th centuries and from medical archives from sanatoria are available. Suggestions for further research: Further research needs to be conducted from these
The present study compares the results of sex estimation in ancient human bone remains of adult i... more The present study compares the results of sex estimation in ancient human bone remains of adult individuals from Argentine central Patagonia (N = 42) using two methods. On the one hand, the study of structures of the pelvis, skull, humerus, femur, and tibia. On the other hand, the biological sex estimated by means of molecular analysis (Next Generation Sequencing), using bioinformatic tools validated for ancient DNA. The results showed that sex estimations based on features of the pelvis (subpubic concavity and ventral arc), the mastoid process of the skull and the formulas proposed by Béguelin for humerus and femur were statistically similar to molecular results in this particular sample from Patagonia. In contrast, the estimations based on structures of the tibia and bicondylar width of humerus and femur were significantly different from molecular sex estimations. Further research needs to be conducted in order to test sex-estimation methods on subadult skeletons.
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a joint disease characterized by the detachment or separation ... more Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a joint disease characterized by the detachment or separation of an articular cartilage fragment and subchondral bone in joint epiphyses. It has been diagnosed in archaeological skeletons worldwide but scarcely studied in hunter‐gatherer skeletal remains. The aim of this paper is to analyse the variation of OCD in skeletons of past populations that lived in Southern Patagonia during the Late Holocene, which can be useful to improve our understanding about the effects of the mechanical demands in hunter‐gatherers. The overall prevalence observed in this sample (40.5%), higher than the data reported for current populations and mostly located in the shoulder of young and middle adult males of terrestrial and maritime hunter‐gatherers, suggests that physical activity involved in both economic strategies would have played an important role in the development of OCD. The contact with European colonizers does not seem to have produced differences in the prevalence of OCD, although more dated skeletons are needed to test this hypothesis.
Análisis comparativo de fórmulas de estimación de la talla en restos humanos de Patagonia Austral. Primeros resultados, 2020
La talla en restos humanos de poblaciones arqueológicas representa un importante indicador genera... more La talla en restos humanos de poblaciones arqueológicas representa un importante indicador general de la salud. Los enfoques para la estimación de talla son el anatómico y el matemático. El anatómico es considerado más exacto y no conlleva problemas de variabilidad interpoblacional, aunque su empleo se encuentra limitado por la necesidad de contar con una alta completitud esqueletal. El enfoque matemático, en cambio, utiliza ecuaciones de regresión que requieren la longitud de uno o más huesos largos. Sin embargo, se ha detectado alta variación en la relación entre la estatura real y los segmentos utilizados para estimarla. En Patagonia Austral, no existen fórmulas específicas para estas poblaciones, lo cual resulta en una baja comparabilidad de resultados y dificulta su selección al momento de estimar la talla. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar qué fórmulas predicen con mayor exactitud la talla en relación con las estimaciones del método anatómico. Los resultados indican que la mayoría de las fórmulas matemáticas proporcionan resultados similares a los resultados obtenidos con la fórmula anatómica. Además, para ambos sexos las fórmulas con mayor coeficiente de determinación tienden a agruparse de acuerdo con el o los huesos requeridos. Las estimaciones de talla más exactas corresponden principalmente a aquellas que emplean el fémur.
Several foodborne diseases have been described in coastal populations from the past, many of them... more Several foodborne diseases have been described in coastal populations from the past, many of them including parasitic infections related to marine diets. Considering this background, the strong relationship between hunter-gatherers from Patagonia and the marine species implies a possible source of parasitic infections and zoonotic risk. However, marine parasitic species have not been identified in archaeological sites from Patagonia so far. The aim of this paper is to propose the potential parasitic infections produced by the consumption of marine molluscs, fishes, birds and sea mammals by human populations from Patagonia during the Holocene, considering the current parasitic species identified in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. We searched in journal articles and book chapters for references of archaeological remains of molluscs, fishes, seabirds and marine mammals recorded in archaeological sites from the Atlantic coast below the 42nd parallel South. Afterwards, we surveyed all the macroparasites of marine origin identified by current parasitological research in the same species found in the archaeological record. We found that most of the marine species in the zooarchaeological record of Patagonia are currently hosts of many parasites. Some species of molluscs, fishes and pinnipeds are highly infected by larvae that are potentially hazardous for human health. Some of them are responsible for acute or chronic zoonotic diseases, with severe consequences depending on how the food was cooked, the amount of consumed parasites and the immune response of the host, in this case, humans. Fishes are host of several parasites related to anisakidosis and corynosomiasis. Sea lions species were also a potential source of the same zoonosis but also diphyllobothriasis. Molluscs are hosts of several parasitic species, but with less severe consequences for human health. On the other hand, birds are infected by adult parasites, without direct zoonotic importance. These findings, although limited by temporal and environmental variability, can provide a speculative overview about the potential influence of marine diets in the health of past hunter-gatherers of Patagonia, particularly if fishes, molluscs or marine mammals were consumed inadequately cooked.
This article reviews the most relevant data regarding evidence of stress and disease in native po... more This article reviews the most relevant data regarding evidence of stress and disease in native populations from Southern Patagonia and proposes future directions for paleopathological research. It focuses on the disease patterns in hunter-gatherer societies and the changes produced by contact and colonization. Studies of oral pathologies showa high frequency of dental attrition and low frequency of caries and antemortem tooth loss. Individuals with terrestrial dietary patterns show evidence of higher mechanical stress in the spine than those who participated in marine economies, based on the prevalence of Schmorl’s nodes and vertebral osteophytosis. Porotic hyperostosis is more prevalent in individuals who had a marine diet and is probably related to nutritional impairment and parasitic infections. A higher frequency of metabolic stress was identified in individuals who lived in missions, perhaps because of declining quality in diet, hygiene, and living conditions. Paleoparasitological studies identified several species of parasites associated with human skeletons and terrestrial fauna. Moreover, recent studies suggested that treponematosis and tuberculosis were present in Patagonia since at least 1000 years BP. Future paleopathological research should increase the size and quality of studied samples and apply new methods and interpretive criteria. Detailed research into infections, degenerative joint diseases, and trauma (including violence episodes) has rarely been conducted.
RESUMEN La osteoartrosis (OA) es una de las afecciones patológicas más comunes en las colecciones... more RESUMEN La osteoartrosis (OA) es una de las afecciones patológicas más comunes en las colecciones esqueletales. Se analizaron 24 individuos provenientes de sitios arqueológicos del Centro-Norte de Mendoza (Argentina) correspondientes al Holoceno tardío, con el objetivo de estudiar la presencia de OA en el esqueleto apendicular. Para ello se evaluó la frecuencia de lesiones en relación con el sexo, la edad, la cronología y la procedencia geográfica de los esqueletos. Los resultados preliminares muestran una alta prevalencia de OA (58,3%). No se registraron diferencias significativas con respecto a la edad y al sexo, aunque algunas articulaciones como hombros y codos podrían estar más afectadas en el sexo masculino. Los individuos asociados con momentos de intensificación agrícola no mostraron un cambio claro en el desarrollo de la OA. No obstante, se registró una mayor frecuencia de esta patología en articulaciones de los miembros superiores y una disminución en los miembros inferiores. Futuros análisis sobre muestras más amplias permitirán evaluar estas hipótesis. ABSTRACT Osteoarthrosis (OA) is one of the most common pathological conditions recorded in skeletal series. Twenty-four individuals from archaeological sites from Center-North region of Mendoza (Argentina), to late Holocene were analyzed, with the aim to study the presence of OA in the appendicular skeleton. For this, it was evaluated the frequency of lesions related to sex, age, chronology and geographical origin of the skeletons. The preliminary results showed a total prevalence of 58.3% of appendicular OA. No significant differences were observed between sexes and ages, although some joins, as shoulder and elbow seems to be more affected in men. No clear relationship between agriculturalist economy and OA were recorded in this particular sample. Nevertheless, more frequent of degenerative changes were registered in higher limbs and a decrease in lower limbs. Future analyses are necessary to test these preliminary hypotheses.
El estudio de los cambios entésicos en restos humanos de Argentina. Estado actual y avances futuros, 2019
RESUMEN
Durante la última década el análisis de los cam-bios entésicos se ha incluido como parte... more RESUMEN Durante la última década el análisis de los cam-bios entésicos se ha incluido como parte de las investiga-ciones bioarqueológicas de diversas regiones de Argentina. En este trabajo se presenta una síntesis de los principales resultados alcanzados hasta el momento y se proponen al-gunos caminos para los futuros estudios. Los resultados más recientes desarrollados en Argentina tienen en cuenta, en general, los conocimientos más actuales. Se identifican, sin embargo, tres aspectos a ser considerados: 1) las distintas PALABRAS CLAVE marcadores de estrés musculoesqueletal; bioarqueología; actividad física metodologías de registro empleadas; 2) el reconocimiento y control de los múltiples factores biológicos involucrados en los cambios entésicos, incluyendo la masa corporal, la talla y la robustez diafisial, además del sexo y la edad; y 3) la interpretación multifactorial de sus resultados. Se discuten los alcances que han tenido estos estudios en escalas locales y se proponen nuevos avances considerando interrogantes teóricos y metodológicos.
ABSTRACT Analysis of entheseal changes was included during the last decade as part of bioarchaeological research from different regions of Argentina. This paper presents a synthesis of the main results achieved so far in the study of entheseal changes of archaeological human remains from Argentina. The most recent research takes into consideration the most current knowledge. However, three aspects have to be taken into account: 1) the different recording methodologies; 2) the recognition and control of the multiple biological factors involved in entheseal changes, including body mass, body size, and the diaphyseal robus-ticity, in addition to sex and age; and 3) the multifactorial interpretation of the results. Local progress is discussed and future prospects are proposed, considering theoretical and methodological issues.
de acuerdo con una variedad de fuentes históricas, los habitantes de nombre de Jesús (1584), el... more de acuerdo con una variedad de fuentes históricas, los habitantes de nombre de Jesús (1584), el primer asentamiento europeo en el estrecho de magallanes, habrían padecido situaciones de desnu- trición y hambre, los cuales habrían llevado al fracaso de la expedición y la muerte de los pobladores. Los restos de este asentamiento permanecían en un halo de misterio por la ausencia de registro mate- rial. Recientemente se realizaron una serie de campañas arqueológicas dirigidas por la dra. m. Ximena senatore, que dieron como resultado el hallazgo de los restos del asentamiento nombre de Jesús y restos óseos humanos de algunos de sus pobladores. el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar y discutir las evi- dencias bioarqueológicas y paleopatológicas correspondientes a los restos óseos humanos hallados en el sitio arqueológico nombre de Jesús, primer asentamiento europeo en Patagonia austral, que permitan discutir las evidencias históricas. Los estudios consistieron en el análisis de lesiones patológicas de los restos óseos humanos hallados, tanto macroscópicas como a través de estudios radiográficos, tomográ- ficos y densitométricos complementarios que colaboraron en el diagnóstico diferencial. Los resultados muestran abundantes signos de stress nutricional y metabólico, acompañado de lesiones producidas por infecciones inespecíficas, que sustentan las hipótesis previas de malnutrición. este análisis posibilita por un lado conocer el estado de salud de los individuos que formaron parte de uno de los más grandes emprendimientos de colonización de la corona española y las causas de su fracaso. a su vez, resulta de interés como evidencia para evaluar uno de los primeros momentos de contacto aborigen-europeo y la posible introducción de patologías en Patagonia.
Low prevalence of caries, high stages of dental attrition (DA), and moderate frequency of antemor... more Low prevalence of caries, high stages of dental attrition (DA), and moderate frequency of antemortem tooth loss (AMTL) were found in skeletal remains of hunter‐gatherers from southern Patagonia. However, osteoarthritis (OA) of temporomandibular joint (TMJ), possible related to oral health, has not been studied so far. The influence of hunter‐gatherer living conditions on the development of TMJ‐OA was scarcely evaluated, and analyses of degenerative changes of TMJ in nonindustrialized groups are needed. The aim of this study is to analyse the association between degenerative changes of TMJ, oral disease, and palaeodietary patterns in skeletal remains of hunter‐gatherers from southern Patagonia. Degenerative changes of TMJ were recorded in 25 adult skulls of both sexes. Eburnation of articular eminence and/or mandibular condyle was considered as pathognomonic of OA. In the absence of eburnation, OA was diagnosed when two or more of the following lesions were identified: (a) new bone formation on joint surface, (b) new bone formation of joint margins, (c) porosity on the joint surface, and (d) modification of joint contour. In the studied skeletons, it was found that OA prevalence is 28%, similar to those observed in other hunter‐gatherer populations elsewhere. TMJ‐OA is mostly related to AMTL and older age, but no relation was found with caries and DA, sex, region, dietary patterns, and chronology. However, consumption of terrestrial resources in the diet cannot be discarded as a related factor. Further studies are necessary to explore the morphological variability of the mandible and its possible relationship with different diets and dental pathologies in these populations.
The odontoid process of the axis can be affected by congenital or acquired pathologies. While abn... more The odontoid process of the axis can be affected by congenital or acquired pathologies. While abnormalities such as os odontoideum, agenesis, and fractures are reported in archaeological remains, the abnormality of an elongated length of the odontoid process has not been described in the paleopathological literature. The aim of this paper is to evaluate two individuals with elongated odontoid processes from a skeletal assemblage from the B6 archaeological site (Mendoza, Argentina), and to discuss the possible etiologies of the condition, with particular attention given to the relation to trauma and Crowned Dens Syndrome (CDS), a condition characterized by the ossification of ligaments of the odontoid process of the second cervical vertebra.
Resumen:
La osteocondritis disecante (OCD) es una patología que afecta el cartílago articular y e... more Resumen: La osteocondritis disecante (OCD) es una patología que afecta el cartílago articular y el hueso subcondral en las epífisis articulares de humanos y otros mamíferos. A pesar de que su etiología es multifactorial, la presencia de esta lesión ha sido frecuentemente atribuida a microtraumatismos reiterados por los efectos de la actividad física sobre las articulaciones afectadas. Este trabajo involucra un primer paso en el estudio de esta patología en restos humanos de Patagonia Austral, la cual no fue analizada en forma sistemática. El objetivo es analizar la variabilidad de la OCD en un conjunto de restos humanos de 26 individuos adultos pertenecientes a sociedades de cazadores-recolectores de esta región durante el Holoceno medio-tardío (ca. 5200-70 años AP) y su posible relación con la edad, el sexo, la dieta, la cronología y el geográfica de procedencia. Se discute si su expresión está vinculada con los patrones de actividad física desarrollados por los grupos, en función de las prácticas económicas llevadas a cabo. La prevalencia general observada en esta muestra (42,3%), mayor a la reportada para poblaciones actuales, sugiere que la actividad física habría desempeñado un rol importante en el desarrollo de la OCD en al menos parte de las personas afectadas.
Abstract: Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a pathology that affects the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone in the articular epiphyses of humans and other mammals. Although its etiology is multifactorial, its presence has been frequently attributed to repetitive microtrauma because of physical activity on the affected joints. This paper is a first step in the study of this pathology in human remains from Patagonia Austral, as it has not been systematically studied. The objective is to analyze the variability of the OCD in a sample of 26 hunter-gatherer adult individuals that lived in this region during the Middle-Late Holocene (ca. 5200-70 years BP) and its possible relationship with age, sex, diet, chronology and region of origin. The association between its expression and the patterns of physical activity developed in accordance with the economic practices, is discussed. The overall prevalence observed in this sample (42,3%), higher than that reported for current populations, suggests that physical activity would have played an important role in the development of OCD in at least part of the affected individuals.
Spondylolysis is a fracture of the pars interarticularis, the portion of the neural arch that lie... more Spondylolysis is a fracture of the pars interarticularis, the portion of the neural arch that lies between the superior articular facets and the inferior articular facets. Clinical evidence has suggested repetitive trauma to be the most probable cause, even though morphological weakness of the vertebra is probably also involved. Prevalence is between 3% and 8% in modern populations, while in archaeological samples it varies from 0% to 71.4%. Considering that very little data about this condition is available in past populations from the southern extreme of South America, the aim of this paper is to analyze the spondylolysis in a human skeletal sample from Southern Patagonia and, at the same time, to explore the prevalence of spondylolysis in archaeological contexts around the world to gain a better understanding of the results presented here. The Southern Patagonian skeletal series analyzed here showed a prevalence of 20%, with lower prevalence in the pre contact sample (11.1%) than in the contact period (23.1%). Skeletons from the Salesian Mission “Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria” showed a higher prevalence (25%) than the sample of skeletal remains recovered from outside the mission (20%), suggesting that changes in lifestyle of hunter-gatherers during contact could be implicated in the development of spondylolysis in this sample. A worldwide survey displays a wide range of prevalence figures in American and Asian samples and low diversity between African and European populations. Hunter-gatherers from Southern Patagonia showed similar values to those observed in other American samples.
RESUMEN. Este trabajo presenta los principales resultados y discusiones llevadas adelante durante... more RESUMEN. Este trabajo presenta los principales resultados y discusiones llevadas adelante durante el III Taller Nacional de Bioarqueología y Paleopatología, celebrado en la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata los días 19 y 20 de mayo de 2016. Durante la realización del taller se presentaron ponencias que versaron sobre el estudio de restos esqueléticos y dentales, focalizando en las ventajas, desventajas y factibilidad de la aplicación de los métodos y técnicas complementarias o alternativas. Las mesas de discusión se organizaron siguiendo diferentes líneas temáticas como Antropología dental; Paleopatología, paleoparasitología y tafonomía, donde se expusieron trabajos relativos al uso del cuerpo, alimentación, salud y alteraciones culturales; Análisis microscópicos y densitométricos, donde se presentaron los alcances y dificultades en la realización de estos estudios; y por último, Determinación del sexo, donde se analizaron muestras arqueológicas de individuos adultos y se realizaron propuestas para la determinación sobre restos de individuos inmaduros investigando colecciones documentadas. Independientemente de los temas específicos que fueron trabajados, se discutieron temas como la necesidad de definir criterios que contribuyan a que las instituciones encargadas de la guarda de las colecciones de restos esqueléticos ofrezcan autorización para el análisis con equipamiento específico y se argumentó la necesidad de enfatizar en la divulgación de los resultados de los estudios bioarqueológicos y paleopatológicos en ámbitos académicos y no académicos. ABSTRACT. This paper presents the main results and discussions carried out during the Third National Workshop on Bioarchaeology and Paleopathology, held at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of La Plata, on May 19-20, 2016. During the workshop, oral communications about the study of skeletal and dental remains were presented, focusing on the advantages, disadvantages and feasibility of the implementation of complementary or alternative research methods and techniques. The oral presentations were organized in scientific sessions along different thematic lines. The first session focused on Dental anthropology; the second one, that included expositions about Paleopathology, paleoparasitology and taphonomy, included research that discussed about the use of the body, health and cultural alterations. In the third session, concerning Microscopic and densitometric analysis, the scope and difficulties of conducting these studies were considered. Finally, the last session focused on Sex determination methodologies; in this case, archaeological adult samples were analyzed, and proposals for immature sex determination were conducted. During the meeting, the need to define criteria that contribute to the institutions responsible for the care of the collections of skeletal remains to provide authorization for analysis with specific equipment was expressed. Also, the need to emphasize the divulgation of the results of bioarchaeological and paleopathological studies in academic and non-academic areas was strongly argued.
The aims of this paper is threefold: 1) to explore the spatial and temporal variations in age-at-... more The aims of this paper is threefold: 1) to explore the spatial and temporal variations in age-at-death profiles of human remains from Southern Patagonia in order to test and discuss the hypothetical increasing demography during the late Holocene; 2) to evaluate probable biases in the skeletal samples derived from preservation issues, social organization features and/or mortuary behavior, and 3) to compare the results with those reported for other hunter-gatherer societies from Pampa and Patagonia regions, offering valuable insights about the age-at-death profiles and paleodemographic for other Southern South American hunter-gatherers with different social characteristics. Age-at-death profiles from Southern Patagonia below 50 S, corresponding to the middle-late Holocene (i.e., after ca. 5500 years before present-YBP-), were constructed from a skeletal series of 119 individuals. Sex and age distribution of the entire sample was firstly analyzed, and two other age-at-death profiles were thereafter built, dividing the sample by region (Santa Cruz/Magellan, Northern Tierra del Fuego and Southern Tierra del Fuego) and by chronology (5500e3500 YBP, 3500e1000 YBP, 1000e400 YBP and after 400 YBP). The results show an attritional profile with two peaks, the first one between 1.1 and 10 years-old and the other for the 20.1e35 age group. A low number of newborns younger than 1 year-old is observed. This could be the result of a low mortality rate for this age interval and a high parental care during the first period of childhood, although taphonomical and mortuary biases cannot be completely excluded. Adult males and females are similarly represented in each age category. Juvenile Index data are higher than 0.17 between 5500 and 400 YBP periods, suggesting population growth, with a particular demographic increase between 5500e3500 and 1000e400 YBP periods. During the contact period, fertility is dramatically reduced. The age-at-death profile is similar to other hunter-gatherer past populations from Pampa and Patagonia regions. Despite the differences regarding mobility strategies, social organization, demographic dynamics and mortuary behavior known for those societies, all profiles show a comparable bimodal attritional pattern, although some variation in the most represented age-groups and demographic growth is observed.
Las huellas de enfermedades en restos humanos son evidencias de la historia de la salud de las pe... more Las huellas de enfermedades en restos humanos son evidencias de la historia de la salud de las personas y las poblaciones.
SUMMARY Modification of the suprascapular notch into a foramen as a consequence of the ossificati... more SUMMARY Modification of the suprascapular notch into a foramen as a consequence of the ossification of the suprascapular transverse ligament is a well-known anatomical change. However, it was rarely considered by research in skeletal and cadaveric remains as a possible cause of Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment, a neuropathy that usually produces pain and weakness of the affected shoulder. This paper has the aim to present and to discuss a case of ossification of the suprascapular transverse ligament in a modern-era, possible archaeological male skeleton of 30-45 years old from the central coast of Patagonia, and a possible development of suprascapular nerve entrapment. Complete bilateral ossification of the superior transverse scapular ligament was identified. As no other morphological, traumatic or neoplastic lesions were found in the scapulae, physical activity is suggested as the cause of the ligament ossifica-tion in the skeleton, although epigenetic origin cannot be completely rejected.
El V Taller Nacional de Bioarqueología y Paleopatología se desarrolló en la FACSO-UNICEN, Departa... more El V Taller Nacional de Bioarqueología y Paleopatología se desarrolló en la FACSO-UNICEN, Departamento de Arqueología, Olavarría en mayo de 2021. En este libro se incluyen los resúmenes de todos los trabajos presentados en este evento. Participaron investigadores, becarios y estudiantes interesados en discutir problemáticas, alternativas teórico-metodológicas y puesta a prueba de nuevos métodos, que contribuyen a la promoción y actualización de criterios útiles para el desarrollo de estudios bioantropológicos y paleopatológicos a diferentes escalas.
A saúde dos nossos antepassados versa sobre
paleopatologia, disciplina orientada para as
investig... more A saúde dos nossos antepassados versa sobre paleopatologia, disciplina orientada para as investigações acerca da saúde humana a partir do estudo dos vestígios que persistem após a morte. Os ossos e dentes perduram ao longo do tempo, revelando evidências de pretéritas doenças e da variabilidade no percurso da história da humanidade. Nesta disciplina os vestígios esqueléticos foram sempre estudados com recurso às mais recentes técnicas. Nunca como hoje houve tantos vestígios disponíveis para análise mas, em contraste, nunca corremos tão grande risco de os perder. Num notável exercício de síntese, articula a abordagem biocultural da paleopatologia de modo original e interdisciplinar, não descurando as questões éticas a que estamos compelidos pela natureza da Antropologia. A forma clara, e até lúdica, da escrita torna-a atrativa tanto para quem detém conhecimentos de paleopatologia como para estreantes, sendo também um livro pedagógico e, por conseguinte, recomendável para o ensino.
La bioarqueología ha demostrado ser, desde sus inicios en la década de 1970, una fuente de inform... more La bioarqueología ha demostrado ser, desde sus inicios en la década de 1970, una fuente de información en continuo crecimiento que colabora de manera dinámica a redimensionar nuestra concepción acerca de las sociedades humanas del pasado. En Latinoamérica, la disciplina ha experimentado un particular impulso durante las últimas décadas, el cual estuvo guiado tanto por la implementación de desarrollos teórico-metodológicos generados en todo el mundo como por los intereses particulares por conocer distintos aspectos de las sociedades precolombinas y por el pulso de los interrogantes científicos y sociales locales. La bioarqueología se constituye en la actualidad como un activo ámbito de producción de conocimiento que genera discursos propios, originales y en ocasiones contestatarios, para descifrar cómo vivían los pueblos prehispánicos y qué cambios sufrieron como consecuencia de la colonización europea.
La génesis del libro que usted tiene en sus manos surgió de la búsqueda de reunir un conjunto de contribuciones que mostraran la gran variedad de enfoques bioarqueológicos que actualmente se abordan en nuestro continente. El objetivo es, entonces, ofrecer un panorama general del estado de la disciplina en Latinoamérica. Los capítulos comprenden desde estudios de casos específicos hasta síntesis regionales resultado de proyectos de trabajo de largo aliento.
Each abstract has been evaluated by members of the Scientific Committee. The suggestions and corr... more Each abstract has been evaluated by members of the Scientific Committee. The suggestions and corrections made were remitted to the authors, who in due time resubmitted the final version to the Editor Committee. Moreover, the Editor Committee, made minimal idiomatic corrections in some cases, taking into account the style and sense of the abstracts.
La exostosis auditiva externa (EAE) es una elevación ósea del conducto auditivo externo. Se asoc... more La exostosis auditiva externa (EAE) es una elevación ósea del conducto auditivo externo. Se asocia con la exposición a aguas frías, aunque también con bajas temperaturas, viento, traumas e infecciones repetitivas. Su prevalencia fue poco estudiada en poblaciones del pasado en Patagonia Austral. Nuestro objetivo es calcular la frecuencia de EAE de acuerdo a la región, sexo, edad y dieta en una muestra de 24 cráneos de individuos adultos pertenecientes al Holoceno Tardío. Se estimó la presencia y grado de EAE siguiendo a Standen et al (1998) y Crowe et al. (2010), cuyos resultados no presentaron diferencias significativas (r = 0,77). El 79,2% (n=19) presentó EAE, bilateral en el 47,4% (n=9), en general de grado 1 y 2 (63,2% y 31,6% respectivamente) según Crowe et al. (2010). Resultó más frecuente en individuos masculinos y adultos medios. El 84,2% (n=16) de los casos afectados proviene de sitios costeros. Sin embargo, fue más predominante en esqueletos asociados a dietas terrestres (58,3%), en especial en aquellos de Santa Cruz/Magallanes (33,3%) y norte de Tierra del Fuego (25%). Los resultados sugieren una combinación de factores ambientales (agua fría, viento y temperatura) como causa de la EAE en Patagonia Austral, aunque son necesarias evaluaciones sobre muestras más amplias y acotadas temporalmente.
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Papers by Jorge Suby
order to evaluate the impact of the industrialization (late 19th and early 20th centuries) on the increasing rates of this disease.
Materials: Historical, paleopathological, and current epidemiological data were reviewed.
Methods: Data were integrated under a paleopathological approach.
Results: Skeletal evidence suggests the existence of TB before colonization. This is followed by two different
periods of increasing TB rates: a probable but unconfirmed first stage, related to the contact between Europeans and natives during the 16th-18th centuries, and a second stage during the Industrial Revolution, from the 1880s to the 1950s, when it was finally controlled with the aid of chemotherapies.
Conclusions: TB rates increased during industrialization, coincident and probably related to immigration, the
disorganized growth of cities, and bad working conditions. Nowadays, TB is under control in the general population, but it remains an important health problem in areas with poor living conditions and in immunocompromised patients.
Significance: This is the first study that integrates archaeological, historical and epidemiological data to
acknowledge the pathway of TB in Argentina.
Limitations: No skeletal evidence of TB from 19th and 20th centuries and from medical archives from sanatoria
are available.
Suggestions for further research: Further research needs to be conducted from these
propose the potential parasitic infections produced by the consumption of marine molluscs, fishes, birds and sea mammals by human populations from Patagonia during the Holocene, considering the current parasitic species identified in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. We searched in journal articles and book chapters for references of archaeological remains of molluscs, fishes, seabirds and marine mammals recorded in archaeological sites from the Atlantic coast below the 42nd parallel South. Afterwards, we surveyed all the macroparasites of marine origin
identified by current parasitological research in the same species found in the archaeological record. We found that most of the marine species in the zooarchaeological record of Patagonia are currently hosts of many parasites. Some species of molluscs, fishes and pinnipeds are highly infected by larvae that are potentially hazardous for human health. Some of them are responsible for acute or chronic zoonotic diseases, with severe consequences depending on how
the food was cooked, the amount of consumed parasites and the immune response of the host, in this case, humans. Fishes are host of several parasites related to anisakidosis and corynosomiasis. Sea lions species were also a potential source of the same zoonosis but also diphyllobothriasis. Molluscs are hosts of several parasitic species, but with less severe consequences for human health. On the other hand, birds are infected by adult parasites, without direct zoonotic importance. These findings, although limited by temporal and environmental variability, can provide a speculative overview about the potential influence of marine diets in the health of past hunter-gatherers of Patagonia, particularly if fishes, molluscs or marine mammals were consumed inadequately cooked.
and proposes future directions for paleopathological research. It focuses on the disease patterns in hunter-gatherer societies
and the changes produced by contact and colonization. Studies of oral pathologies showa high frequency of dental attrition
and low frequency of caries and antemortem tooth loss. Individuals with terrestrial dietary patterns show evidence of higher
mechanical stress in the spine than those who participated in marine economies, based on the prevalence of Schmorl’s
nodes and vertebral osteophytosis. Porotic hyperostosis is more prevalent in individuals who had a marine diet and is probably
related to nutritional impairment and parasitic infections. A higher frequency of metabolic stress was identified in individuals
who lived in missions, perhaps because of declining quality in diet, hygiene, and living conditions. Paleoparasitological studies
identified several species of parasites associated with human skeletons and terrestrial fauna. Moreover, recent studies suggested
that treponematosis and tuberculosis were present in Patagonia since at least 1000 years BP. Future paleopathological research
should increase the size and quality of studied samples and apply new methods and interpretive criteria. Detailed research into
infections, degenerative joint diseases, and trauma (including violence episodes) has rarely been conducted.
Durante la última década el análisis de los cam-bios entésicos se ha incluido como parte de las investiga-ciones bioarqueológicas de diversas regiones de Argentina. En este trabajo se presenta una síntesis de los principales resultados alcanzados hasta el momento y se proponen al-gunos caminos para los futuros estudios. Los resultados más recientes desarrollados en Argentina tienen en cuenta, en general, los conocimientos más actuales. Se identifican, sin embargo, tres aspectos a ser considerados: 1) las distintas PALABRAS CLAVE marcadores de estrés musculoesqueletal; bioarqueología; actividad física metodologías de registro empleadas; 2) el reconocimiento y control de los múltiples factores biológicos involucrados en los cambios entésicos, incluyendo la masa corporal, la talla y la robustez diafisial, además del sexo y la edad; y 3) la interpretación multifactorial de sus resultados. Se discuten los alcances que han tenido estos estudios en escalas locales y se proponen nuevos avances considerando interrogantes teóricos y metodológicos.
ABSTRACT
Analysis of entheseal changes was included during the last decade as part of bioarchaeological research from different regions of Argentina. This paper presents a synthesis of the main results achieved so far in the study of entheseal changes of archaeological human remains from Argentina. The most recent research takes into consideration the most current knowledge. However, three aspects have to be taken into account: 1) the different recording methodologies; 2) the recognition and control of the multiple biological factors involved in entheseal changes, including body mass, body size, and the diaphyseal robus-ticity, in addition to sex and age; and 3) the multifactorial interpretation of the results. Local progress is discussed and future prospects are proposed, considering theoretical and methodological issues.
La osteocondritis disecante (OCD) es una patología que afecta el cartílago articular y el hueso subcondral en las epífisis articulares de humanos y otros mamíferos. A pesar de que su etiología es multifactorial, la presencia de esta lesión ha sido frecuentemente atribuida a microtraumatismos reiterados por los efectos de la actividad física sobre las articulaciones afectadas. Este trabajo involucra un primer paso en el estudio de esta patología en restos humanos de Patagonia Austral, la cual no fue analizada en forma sistemática. El objetivo es analizar la variabilidad de la OCD en un conjunto de restos humanos de 26 individuos adultos pertenecientes a sociedades de cazadores-recolectores de esta región durante el Holoceno medio-tardío (ca. 5200-70 años AP) y su posible relación con la edad, el sexo, la dieta, la cronología y el geográfica de procedencia. Se discute si su expresión está vinculada con los patrones de actividad física desarrollados por los grupos, en función de las prácticas económicas llevadas a cabo. La prevalencia general observada en esta muestra (42,3%), mayor a la reportada para poblaciones actuales, sugiere que la actividad física habría desempeñado un rol importante en el desarrollo de la OCD en al menos parte de las personas afectadas.
Abstract:
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a pathology that affects the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone in the articular epiphyses of humans and other mammals. Although its etiology is multifactorial, its presence has been frequently attributed to repetitive microtrauma because of physical activity on the affected joints. This paper is a first step in the study of this pathology in human remains from Patagonia Austral, as it has not been systematically studied. The objective is to analyze the variability of the OCD in a sample of 26 hunter-gatherer adult individuals that lived in this region during the Middle-Late Holocene (ca. 5200-70 years BP) and its possible relationship with age, sex, diet, chronology and region of origin. The association between its expression and the patterns of physical activity developed in accordance with the economic practices, is discussed. The overall prevalence observed in this sample (42,3%), higher than that reported for current populations, suggests that physical activity would have played an important role in the development of OCD in at least part of the affected individuals.
ABSTRACT. This paper presents the main results and discussions carried out during the Third National Workshop on Bioarchaeology and Paleopathology, held at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of La Plata, on May 19-20, 2016. During the workshop, oral communications about the study of skeletal and dental remains were presented, focusing on the advantages, disadvantages and feasibility of the implementation of complementary or alternative research methods and techniques. The oral presentations were organized in scientific sessions along different thematic lines. The first session focused on Dental anthropology; the second one, that included expositions about Paleopathology, paleoparasitology and taphonomy, included research that discussed about the use of the body, health and cultural alterations. In the third session, concerning Microscopic and densitometric analysis, the scope and difficulties of conducting these studies were considered. Finally, the last session focused on Sex determination methodologies; in this case, archaeological adult samples were analyzed, and proposals for immature sex determination were conducted. During the meeting, the need to define criteria that contribute to the institutions responsible for the care of the collections of skeletal remains to provide authorization for analysis with specific equipment was expressed. Also, the need to emphasize the divulgation of the results of bioarchaeological and paleopathological studies in academic and non-academic areas was strongly argued.
order to evaluate the impact of the industrialization (late 19th and early 20th centuries) on the increasing rates of this disease.
Materials: Historical, paleopathological, and current epidemiological data were reviewed.
Methods: Data were integrated under a paleopathological approach.
Results: Skeletal evidence suggests the existence of TB before colonization. This is followed by two different
periods of increasing TB rates: a probable but unconfirmed first stage, related to the contact between Europeans and natives during the 16th-18th centuries, and a second stage during the Industrial Revolution, from the 1880s to the 1950s, when it was finally controlled with the aid of chemotherapies.
Conclusions: TB rates increased during industrialization, coincident and probably related to immigration, the
disorganized growth of cities, and bad working conditions. Nowadays, TB is under control in the general population, but it remains an important health problem in areas with poor living conditions and in immunocompromised patients.
Significance: This is the first study that integrates archaeological, historical and epidemiological data to
acknowledge the pathway of TB in Argentina.
Limitations: No skeletal evidence of TB from 19th and 20th centuries and from medical archives from sanatoria
are available.
Suggestions for further research: Further research needs to be conducted from these
propose the potential parasitic infections produced by the consumption of marine molluscs, fishes, birds and sea mammals by human populations from Patagonia during the Holocene, considering the current parasitic species identified in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. We searched in journal articles and book chapters for references of archaeological remains of molluscs, fishes, seabirds and marine mammals recorded in archaeological sites from the Atlantic coast below the 42nd parallel South. Afterwards, we surveyed all the macroparasites of marine origin
identified by current parasitological research in the same species found in the archaeological record. We found that most of the marine species in the zooarchaeological record of Patagonia are currently hosts of many parasites. Some species of molluscs, fishes and pinnipeds are highly infected by larvae that are potentially hazardous for human health. Some of them are responsible for acute or chronic zoonotic diseases, with severe consequences depending on how
the food was cooked, the amount of consumed parasites and the immune response of the host, in this case, humans. Fishes are host of several parasites related to anisakidosis and corynosomiasis. Sea lions species were also a potential source of the same zoonosis but also diphyllobothriasis. Molluscs are hosts of several parasitic species, but with less severe consequences for human health. On the other hand, birds are infected by adult parasites, without direct zoonotic importance. These findings, although limited by temporal and environmental variability, can provide a speculative overview about the potential influence of marine diets in the health of past hunter-gatherers of Patagonia, particularly if fishes, molluscs or marine mammals were consumed inadequately cooked.
and proposes future directions for paleopathological research. It focuses on the disease patterns in hunter-gatherer societies
and the changes produced by contact and colonization. Studies of oral pathologies showa high frequency of dental attrition
and low frequency of caries and antemortem tooth loss. Individuals with terrestrial dietary patterns show evidence of higher
mechanical stress in the spine than those who participated in marine economies, based on the prevalence of Schmorl’s
nodes and vertebral osteophytosis. Porotic hyperostosis is more prevalent in individuals who had a marine diet and is probably
related to nutritional impairment and parasitic infections. A higher frequency of metabolic stress was identified in individuals
who lived in missions, perhaps because of declining quality in diet, hygiene, and living conditions. Paleoparasitological studies
identified several species of parasites associated with human skeletons and terrestrial fauna. Moreover, recent studies suggested
that treponematosis and tuberculosis were present in Patagonia since at least 1000 years BP. Future paleopathological research
should increase the size and quality of studied samples and apply new methods and interpretive criteria. Detailed research into
infections, degenerative joint diseases, and trauma (including violence episodes) has rarely been conducted.
Durante la última década el análisis de los cam-bios entésicos se ha incluido como parte de las investiga-ciones bioarqueológicas de diversas regiones de Argentina. En este trabajo se presenta una síntesis de los principales resultados alcanzados hasta el momento y se proponen al-gunos caminos para los futuros estudios. Los resultados más recientes desarrollados en Argentina tienen en cuenta, en general, los conocimientos más actuales. Se identifican, sin embargo, tres aspectos a ser considerados: 1) las distintas PALABRAS CLAVE marcadores de estrés musculoesqueletal; bioarqueología; actividad física metodologías de registro empleadas; 2) el reconocimiento y control de los múltiples factores biológicos involucrados en los cambios entésicos, incluyendo la masa corporal, la talla y la robustez diafisial, además del sexo y la edad; y 3) la interpretación multifactorial de sus resultados. Se discuten los alcances que han tenido estos estudios en escalas locales y se proponen nuevos avances considerando interrogantes teóricos y metodológicos.
ABSTRACT
Analysis of entheseal changes was included during the last decade as part of bioarchaeological research from different regions of Argentina. This paper presents a synthesis of the main results achieved so far in the study of entheseal changes of archaeological human remains from Argentina. The most recent research takes into consideration the most current knowledge. However, three aspects have to be taken into account: 1) the different recording methodologies; 2) the recognition and control of the multiple biological factors involved in entheseal changes, including body mass, body size, and the diaphyseal robus-ticity, in addition to sex and age; and 3) the multifactorial interpretation of the results. Local progress is discussed and future prospects are proposed, considering theoretical and methodological issues.
La osteocondritis disecante (OCD) es una patología que afecta el cartílago articular y el hueso subcondral en las epífisis articulares de humanos y otros mamíferos. A pesar de que su etiología es multifactorial, la presencia de esta lesión ha sido frecuentemente atribuida a microtraumatismos reiterados por los efectos de la actividad física sobre las articulaciones afectadas. Este trabajo involucra un primer paso en el estudio de esta patología en restos humanos de Patagonia Austral, la cual no fue analizada en forma sistemática. El objetivo es analizar la variabilidad de la OCD en un conjunto de restos humanos de 26 individuos adultos pertenecientes a sociedades de cazadores-recolectores de esta región durante el Holoceno medio-tardío (ca. 5200-70 años AP) y su posible relación con la edad, el sexo, la dieta, la cronología y el geográfica de procedencia. Se discute si su expresión está vinculada con los patrones de actividad física desarrollados por los grupos, en función de las prácticas económicas llevadas a cabo. La prevalencia general observada en esta muestra (42,3%), mayor a la reportada para poblaciones actuales, sugiere que la actividad física habría desempeñado un rol importante en el desarrollo de la OCD en al menos parte de las personas afectadas.
Abstract:
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a pathology that affects the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone in the articular epiphyses of humans and other mammals. Although its etiology is multifactorial, its presence has been frequently attributed to repetitive microtrauma because of physical activity on the affected joints. This paper is a first step in the study of this pathology in human remains from Patagonia Austral, as it has not been systematically studied. The objective is to analyze the variability of the OCD in a sample of 26 hunter-gatherer adult individuals that lived in this region during the Middle-Late Holocene (ca. 5200-70 years BP) and its possible relationship with age, sex, diet, chronology and region of origin. The association between its expression and the patterns of physical activity developed in accordance with the economic practices, is discussed. The overall prevalence observed in this sample (42,3%), higher than that reported for current populations, suggests that physical activity would have played an important role in the development of OCD in at least part of the affected individuals.
ABSTRACT. This paper presents the main results and discussions carried out during the Third National Workshop on Bioarchaeology and Paleopathology, held at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the National University of La Plata, on May 19-20, 2016. During the workshop, oral communications about the study of skeletal and dental remains were presented, focusing on the advantages, disadvantages and feasibility of the implementation of complementary or alternative research methods and techniques. The oral presentations were organized in scientific sessions along different thematic lines. The first session focused on Dental anthropology; the second one, that included expositions about Paleopathology, paleoparasitology and taphonomy, included research that discussed about the use of the body, health and cultural alterations. In the third session, concerning Microscopic and densitometric analysis, the scope and difficulties of conducting these studies were considered. Finally, the last session focused on Sex determination methodologies; in this case, archaeological adult samples were analyzed, and proposals for immature sex determination were conducted. During the meeting, the need to define criteria that contribute to the institutions responsible for the care of the collections of skeletal remains to provide authorization for analysis with specific equipment was expressed. Also, the need to emphasize the divulgation of the results of bioarchaeological and paleopathological studies in academic and non-academic areas was strongly argued.
paleopatologia, disciplina orientada para as
investigações acerca da saúde humana a partir do
estudo dos vestígios que persistem após a morte.
Os ossos e dentes perduram ao longo do tempo,
revelando evidências de pretéritas doenças e da
variabilidade no percurso da história da humanidade.
Nesta disciplina os vestígios esqueléticos foram
sempre estudados com recurso às mais recentes
técnicas. Nunca como hoje houve tantos vestígios
disponíveis para análise mas, em contraste, nunca
corremos tão grande risco de os perder. Num
notável exercício de síntese, articula a abordagem
biocultural da paleopatologia de modo original
e interdisciplinar, não descurando as questões
éticas a que estamos compelidos pela natureza
da Antropologia. A forma clara, e até lúdica, da
escrita torna-a atrativa tanto para quem detém
conhecimentos de paleopatologia como para
estreantes, sendo também um livro pedagógico e,
por conseguinte, recomendável para o ensino.
La génesis del libro que usted tiene en sus manos surgió de la búsqueda de reunir un conjunto de contribuciones que mostraran la gran variedad de enfoques bioarqueológicos que actualmente se abordan en nuestro continente. El objetivo es, entonces, ofrecer un panorama general del estado de la disciplina en Latinoamérica. Los capítulos comprenden desde estudios de casos específicos hasta síntesis regionales resultado de proyectos de trabajo de largo aliento.