Current Knowledge about Health and Disease of Hunter-Gatherers from Southern Patagonia: Recent Advances and Future Challenges.

SUBY JA

Congreso; VI Paleopathology Association Meeting in South America; 2015

Paleopathology Association

The knowledge about health and disease of hunter-gatherers from Southern Patagonia were increased during past two decades, based in studies of skeletal, parasitic and historical information. At the same time, archaeological and paleoenvironmental data slowly began to be included in bioarchaeological researches under biocultural approach. The aim of this presentation is to review the most relevant information about health of native populations from Southern Patagonia and to propose future directions.Studies of oral pathologies showed high frequency of dental attrition and temporomandibular joint osteoarthrosis, and low frequency of caries and antemortem tooth loss (e.g. Guichón 1994; Suby 2012; L´Heureux y Amorosi 2009, 2010). Health patterns were associated to economic strategies. Individuals with terrestrial dietary pattern showed higher prevalence of Schmorl´s nodes and vertebral osteophytosis than skeletons associated with marine diet (Suby 2014a). Porotic hyperostosis is more prevalent in skeletons with marine diet, probably related to nutritional impairment and infections (Suby 2014b). Higher frequency of metabolic stress were identified in individuals who lived in missions, perhaps due to declining of diet quality, hygiene and living conditions (e.g. Castro y Aspillaga 2001; García Laborde et al. 2011; Casali et al. 2006; Suby et al. 2013). Paleoparasitological studies identified several species of parasites associated to human and faunal skeletons (e.g. Fugassa 2006; Fugassa et al. 2013). Recent studies suggested the presence of tuberculosis (Guichón et al. 2013; García Guraieb 2006; Sáez 2008) and treponematosis (Castro et al. 2008) in Patagonia since at least the 1000 years BP. However, these data were not confirmed until now. Future paleopathological researches must be oriented to increase the size and quality of studied samples, applying new and actualized methodologies and interpretive criteria. Detailed researches about paleodemography, stature and body mass, trauma (including violence episodes) were rarely conducted. The impact of infectious diseases in native populations before and during contact remains unclear, considering data are still scarce. These and other issues must to be explored and integrated as part of a biocultural approach.