Paleopathology in mummified remains

La paleopatología investiga la evolución de las enfermedades en el pasado y las formas en las cuales las sociedades humanas se adaptan a ellas y a su medio ambiente (Zuckerman et al., 2012). Desde esta perspectiva evolutiva, las investigaciones paleopatológicas en la actualidad intentan ofrecer aportes acerca de la influencia de factores biológicos, socioeconómicos y culturales (e.g., dieta,
conflictos sociales, demografía, etc.) sobre la salud de las sociedades humanas en escalas individuales y poblacionales. Este capítulo presenta el camino recorrido por esta disciplina hasta alcanzar el nivel de desarrollo actual, analizando sus conceptos teóricos y metodológicos más importantes. Al mismo tiempo, se discuten los aspectos que son objeto de mayor debate en la actualidad y los avances más destacados logrados durante las últimas décadas. Finalmente, se analiza la situación actual sobre el desarrollo de la paleopatología en Latinoamérica y los próximos desafíos que deberá afrontar.

Paleopathology includes the analysis of diseases in the past through a variety of sources of information including skeletonized and mummified remains, studies of microorganisms, historical and ethnographic documents and molecular analysis. From these studies, it is possible to explore the impact of diseases in human populations and understand its development in today´s world. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the reconstruction of evolutionary scenarios of human health and its relationship with different cultural and biological factors.
As part of the schedule of meetings organized by the Paleopathology Association, the Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America (PAMinSA) was uninterruptedly carried out since 2005. Like the meetings organized in North America and Europe, the main objective of the South American Meetings is to facilitate interactions between specialists interested in paleopathology. This is a space that allows researchers and students from many regions to present their results and have contact with professionals from other countries of the continent and the world.
The previous five meetings strengthened and encouraged the development of the South American paleopathological research on local and regional scales. In this first tenth anniversary, PAMinSA VI provides an opportunity to consider the results achieved so far, and to propose new goals for the near future within the discipline.

La paleopatología comprende el análisis de las enfermedades en el pasado reciente y remoto a través de una variedad de fuentes de información que incluye restos esqueletizados y momificados, documentos histórico-etnográficos y análisis moleculares y de microorganismos. A partir de estos estudios es posible explorar el impacto de las enfermedades en las poblaciones humanas y comprender su desarrollo en la actualidad. A su vez, es factible contribuir en la reconstrucción de escenarios evolutivos de la salud humana y su relación con diferentes factores culturales y biológicos.
Como parte del cronograma de encuentros organizados por la Paleopathology Association, se realizan desde el año 2005 y en forma ininterrumpida los Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America (PAMinSA). Al igual que en los congresos que se desarrollan en América del Norte y Europa, el Congreso Sudamericano tiene como objetivo principal facilitar la interacción entre especialistas interesados en la paleopatología. Este es un espacio que cada dos años permite a investigadores y estudiantes de toda la región presentar sus producciones y contactarse con profesionales de otros países del continente y del mundo.
Los cinco encuentros previos han fortalecido y favorecido el desarrollo de las investigaciones paleopatológicas sudamericanas en escalas locales y regionales. En este primer décimo aniversario, el PAMinSA VI ofrece la oportunidad de reflexionar acerca de los resultados alcanzados hasta el momento y proponer nuevas metas para el futuro próximo dentro de la disciplina.

Four recently discovered frozen child mummies from two of the highest peaks in the south central Andes now yield tantalizing evidence of the preparatory stages leading to Inca ritual killing as represented by the unique capacocha rite. Our interdisciplinary study examined hair from the mummies to obtain detailed genetic and diachronic isotopic information. This approach has allowed us to reconstruct aspects of individual identity and diet, make inferences concerning social background, and gain insight on the hitherto unknown processes by which victims were selected, elevated in social status, prepared for a high-altitude pilgrimage, and killed. Such direct information amplifies, yet also partly contrasts with, Spanish historical accounts. ancient DNA bioarchaeology South America stable light isotopes ice mummies

Many studies have been concerned with the ancient Egyptian mummification method; nevertheless, little effort has been made to explore it experimentally. The goal of this study is to apply evidence-based diagnostic criteria and state-of-the art methodology in order to improve knowledge on soft tissues preservation and postmortem alterations. Two human lower limbs (LL) from a female donor were (1) “naturally” mummified by dry heat and (2) artificially in natron. At specific time intervals a macroscopic and radiological examination of the LL was performed and skin and muscle samples were taken for histological and biomolecular analysis. Temperature, humidity, pH, and weight of the LL were systematically measured. The mummification by dry heat was stopped after 7 days due
to unexpected lack of mummification progress. The mummification in natron was completed successfully after 208 days. The humidity, the external temperature, and the pH were proven with Pearson correlation and principal component analysis as important factors for the mummification process. The steady removal of water from the tissues through the
natron has prevented the putrefaction. This is also evident in the absence of bacteria or fungi through the microbiological analysis. The histological analysis revealed very good preservation of the skin and the muscle tissues. In the muscular sample certain degree of structural disintegration can be seen, particularly affecting the epimysium whilst in the skin sam-
ples the epidermis, especially the stratum corneum, is mostly affected. The samples show better preservation compared with ancient Egyptian sections and other mummified tissues from historic or forensic context.

In October 2011, the symposium “Contributions of palaeopathology to the study of past human societies” was organized by the authors as the part of the Xth Meeting of Biological Anthropology Society of Argentina, La Plata, Argentina. The aim of the symposium was to present multidisciplinary population studies, which broadly included current theoretical and methodological perspectives.

This study explores the age at death structure, skeletal lesions, and artificial cranial modification (ACM) on 35 nonadults until their 38 months of life recovered from the Tarapacá 40 cemetery, Northern Chile. Age estimations were based primarily on long bones dimensions, whereas skeletal lesions and ACM were recognized on dry bones and in mummified and bundled bodies. Measurements and observations in these later were performed by radiographies. Results show a distribution of ages at death clustered in three groups: around birth and second month of life, between 9 and 12 months of life, and between 18 and 26 months of life. The presence of physiological disruption indicators such as porotic hyperostosis, cribra orbitalia, criba femoris, periostitis and Harris lines, and ACM is described. Then, we discussed the observed age at death structure and the skeletal lesions as reflecting weaning process, and the links between the nature and timing of this practice with social organization of care labour, control over female sexuality, and socio‐economic transformations occurring during the Formative Period in Northern Chile.

Among the collections of the Museum of Anthropology of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, are two Egyptian mummies of children. Little information is available regarding their historical background and origin, yet, according to Egyptologist V. Chrysikopoulos it is likely that they date in the first centuries AD (Karamanou et al., 2017). Features of the mummies,
such as great attention to embalming practices and remains of gold leaf on the face and feet of both child mummies point towards the assumption that they belonged to the upper class (Karamanou
et al., 2017). The problematic preservation state and questions on the
embalming materials and procedures led to a series of analyses on a variety of samples from both mummies (Karamanou et al., 2017). This paper focuses on the Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy / Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) observation and analysis performed on hair samples of the largest in size of the children’s mummies. DNA analysis on the hairs and species level
fungal characterization were also performed.

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.