Almost all known human specific parasites have been found in ancient feces. A review of the paleoparasitological helminth and intestinal protozoa findings available in the literature is presented. We also report the new paleoparasitologic findings from the examination performed in samples collected in New and Old World archaeological sites. New finds of ancylostomid, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichostrongylus spp., Diphyllobothrium latum, Hymenolepis nana and Acantocephalan eggs are reported. According to the findings, it is probable that A. lumbricoides was originally a human parasite. Human ancylostomids, A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura, found in the New World in pre-Columbian times, have not been introduced into the Americas by land via Beringia. These parasites could not supported the cold climate of the region. Nomadic prehistoric humans that have crossed the Bering Land Bridge from Asia to the Americas in the last glaciation, probably during generations, would have lost these parasites, which life cycles need warm temperatures in the soil to be transmitted from host to host. Alternative routes are discussed for human parasite introduction into the Americas.

https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/bitstream/icict/24719/2/HumanIntestinal.pdf

Human intestinal parasites in the past: new findings and a review

INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESULT from the interplay of three main factors: the host, the parasite, and the environment. The matter is highly complex, since each of these factors can vary in many ways and many differing diseases can result. In this review, attention will be concentrated on two of these factors: the prehuman and human hosts and their environments during the periods of man's evolution from the earliest days to the present. A number of distinct eras can be discerned: those of the primate precursors of man, early man, agricultural man, industrial man, and the man of one world. The first three of these eras will be discussed here.

Infectious diseases in ancient populations.

In this complete and thorough update of Arthur Boucot's seminal work, Evolutionary Paleobiology of Behavior and Coevolution, Boucot is joined by George Poinar, who provides additional expertise and knowledge on protozoans and bacteria as applied to disease. Together, they make the Fossil Behavior Compendium wider in scope, covering all relevant ani

Fossil Behavior Compendium

/pdf/coprolite-analysis-a-biological-perspective-on-archaeology-afar758jkn.pdf

Coprolite Analysis: A Biological Perspective on Archaeology

Parasitological studies of archaeological sites can be used to interpret past behavior and living conditions. During the 1980s problem-oriented research into prehistoric- and historical-period parasitism developed and resulted in the field of archaeoparasitology. Archaeoparasitology attempts to integrate parasite data into archaeological theory and interpretation. Within the last decade, four major archaeoparasitological laboratories emerged. They developed interpretive frameworks that apply parasitological data to a remarkable variety of prehistoric behaviors. Parasite remains can be used to reconstruct aspects of diet, health, and other behaviors such as transhumance and trade. Finally, analysis of the distribution of parasite remains can be used to interpret aspects of site-formation processes.

/pdf/parasitology-as-an-interpretive-tool-in-archaeology-1y22iqzoe7.pdf

E. O. Callen

Papers

Prehistoric Diet Revealed in Coprolites