Ancient parasite infections from the main Pampean-Patagonian cemetery of hunter-gatherer of prehistoric times: Archaeological site Chenque I (Parque Nacional Lihué Calel, La Pampa Province, Argentina)

TIETZE, ELEONOR; BERÓN, MÓNICA A.; LUCERO, ELIANA; ORNELA BELTRAME, MARÍA

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

Elsevier

Año: 2023 vol. 49

2352-409X

Paleoparasitological studies of human sediment samples from prehistoric times of Argentina are scarce. Theobjective of the present study is to enhance the knowledge of parasitic infections affecting hunter-gathererpopulations inhabiting the Pampean region of Argentina in prehistoric times. A total of 33 samples from 12inhumation structures of archaeological site Chenque I, the unique cementery studied in Argentina until nowfrom a paleoparasitological point of view, were studied. Chenque I constitute the greater repository of humanarchaeological remains of La Pampa province. Thirty-one samples came from human burials, and 2 samples froma dog retrieved in a burial, associated with a child. By humans, 11 samples correspond to males, 13 to females,and 7 to undifferentiated individuals. A total of 5 samples corresponds to control samples and were taken underthe skull. Paleoparasitological examination revealed that 8 of the 33 sediment samples resulted positive forparasite remains applying the rehydration and spontaneous sedimentation technique with or without addition ofHCl (10%). The pre-treatment of samples with HCl as a preliminary step allowed a greater recovery of parasiticremains compared to standard spontaneous sedimentation procedure. The most common parasite species foundwas Trichuris trichiura being probably one of the parasites that commonly affect human populations inhabitingthe region. The low preservation evidenced by the parasite remains recovered indicate a taphonomic interferencein the data of parasite assemblages, which probably produce a bias in the recovery of other parasite species thatcould infect these ancient populations. Proceed in the study of new human samples to improve the knowledge ofparasitic infections affecting ancient populations inhabiting the studied region is necessary.