Infectious diseases in the Upper Delta of the Paraná river. A preliminary analysis of periosteal reactions of the bone assemblage recovered in Los Tres Cerros 1 site (argentine Northeast)

RAMOS VAN RAAP, M. A.; SCABUZZO, C.

Capital Federal

Congreso; VI Paleopahology Association meeting in South America; 2015

Grupo de Investigación en Bioarqueología y Paleopahology Association

We present the first results of the paleopathological analysis of the bone assemblage recovered in Los Tres Cerros 1 archaeological site (LTC1) (Argentine Northeast). We specifically inform about the incidence of periosteal reactions and possible cases of osteomyelitis observed in the bone elements, emphasizing on the methodology used for recording and diagnosis. Finally, we discuss the incidence of these diseases in the context of the pre-Hispanic groups that occupied the mounds semi-permanently and with a strong population growth.The LTC1 site is part of an archaeological locality composed of three mounds, located in the department of Victoria, Entre Ríos, Argentina. This mound functioned as a semi-permanent occupation village where domestic activities and funerary rites were performed. These events took place between ca. 1200 and 500 years BP among hunter-gatherers, fisher and farming groups, assigned to the Goya-Malabrigo cultural entity.Research in LTC1 includes four archaeological field works between 2009 and 2012, during which ceramic and faunal remains, and human burials arranged in several ways (primary, secondary and isolated bones) were recovered. A minimum number of 20 individuals of both sexes and different age categories were buried. Bone lesions associated with pathologies of different etiologies were recorded: metabolic-nutritional, degenerative and infectious (periosteal reactions and possible osteomyelitis). The latter are more frequent in the bioarchaeological record and that is why their study is highlighted in this paper. The recording methodology involves a detailed description of the injuries, photographs, observations with low power stereomicroscope and X-Rays of some of these items. Although the level of analysis was at the bone element, subsequent interpretations of individual lesions were altered in the cases of isolated bones. Preliminary results indicate the presence of periosteal reactions in 10 long bones of at least three individuals found isolated. The bone elements correspond to adults individuals and adolescent-adult. Moreover, two adults in primary burials have lesions in multiple bones and possible signs of osteomyelitis in the tibias.