Abstract

RAMIREZ, Dario Alejandro; VIEIRA DE SOUZA, Mônica; MAYO INIGUEZ, Alena  and  FABRA, Mariana. FIRST PALEOPARASITOLOGICAL STUDY ON HUMAN REMAINS FROM THE PROVINCE OF CÓRDOBA (LATE HOLOCENE). Rev Arg Antrop Biol [online]. 2021, vol.23, n.1, pp.11-12. ISSN 1514-7991.  http://dx.doi.org/10.24215/18536387e030.

Paleoparasitology in Argentina has produced a number of studies, especially from Patagonia. However, investigations on parasites in past populations from the central region of the country are absent. In this regard, we performed the first research on parasite infestation in human remains from archaeological sites of the province of Córdoba. Thirteen individuals from four archaeological sites, dated of 2562 ± 47 to 533 ± 57 14C years BP, were examined. Paleoparasitological analyses were conducted on 20 sediment samples from the pelvic cavity, using spontaneous sedimentation, disaggregation in hydrochloric acid, and sucrose flotation techniques. We found structures suggestive of helminth eggs of Ascaridoidea and Heterakoidea superfamilies, and of unidentified nematode eggs. As animals are the definitive hosts of the parasites found, the results could suggest the occurrence of false parasitism in the individuals from the region. The close interaction between humans and animals, incorporated as part of the diet, is supported by previous isotopic and zooarchaeological studies. The scarcity of parasite findings in this study would be attributed to taphonomic processes and the environmental characteristics of the sites.

Keywords : Paleoparasitology; archaeological sediments; ecological interactions; Heterakoidea; Ascaridoidea.

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