Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Paleoparasitology of Merovingian Corpses Buried in Stone Sarcophagi in the Saint-Martin-au-Val Church (Chartres, France)

  • Dufour, Benjamin (University of Bourgogne Franche-Comte, CNRS UMR 6249 Chrono-environment) ;
  • Portat, Emilie (Direction de l'archeologie, Chartres Metropole, Place des Halles) ;
  • Bazin, Bruno (Direction de l'archeologie, Chartres Metropole, Place des Halles) ;
  • Le Bailly, Matthieu (University of Bourgogne Franche-Comte, CNRS UMR 6249 Chrono-environment)
  • Received : 2019.08.30
  • Accepted : 2019.09.15
  • Published : 2019.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Paleoparasitological analysis was carried on 4 Merovingian skeletons, dated from the late-5th to the late-9th centuries, and recovered in the church of Saint-Martin-au-Val in Chartres (Center region, France). The corpses were buried in stone sarcophagi, which were still sealed at the time of excavation. Parasite marker extraction was conducted on sediment samples taken from the abdominal and pelvic regions, but also on samples taken from under the head and the feet as control samples. Microscopic observation revealed the presence of 3 gastrointestinal parasites, namely the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the fish tapeworm (genus Diphyllobothrium). This analysis contributes to a better knowledge of the health status and the lifestyle of ancient medieval populations during the Merovingian period, for which very few paleoparasitological data were available, up until now. It demonstrates the presence of the fish tapeworm for the first time during this period.

Keywords

References

  1. Le Bailly M, Araujo A. Past intestinal parasites. Microbiol Spectr 2016; 4.
  2. Ruffer MA. Note on the presence of "Bilharzia haematobia" in Egyptian mummies of the twentieth dynasty [1250-1000 B.C.]. Br Med J 1910; 16: 65.
  3. Szidat L. Uber die Erhaltungsfahigkeit von Helmintheneiern in Vor- und Fruhgeschichtlichen Moorleichen. Z Parasitenkd 1944; 13: 265-274 (in Deutsch). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03177148
  4. Taylor EL. Parasitic helminths in mediaeval remains. Vet Rec 1955; 67: 216-218.
  5. Bazin B, Huchin-Godin I, Herouin S, Portat E. L'eglise Saint-Martin-au-Val. Place Saint-Brice, rue Saint-Martin-au-Val - Chartres (Eure-et-Loir - Centre). Rapport de fouille archeologique. Chartres, France. Ville de Chartres - Service Archeologie. 2015, pp 404 (in French).
  6. Bazin B, Guingueno M, Portat E. L'eglise Saint-Martin-au-Val. Place Saint-Brice, rue Saint-Martin-au-Val - Chartres (Eure-et-Loir - Centre-Val de Loire). Rapport de fouille archeologique programmee. Chartres, France. Ville de Chartres - Service Archeolo gie. 2017, pp 391 (in French).
  7. Bazin B, Portat E. L'eglise Saint-Martin-au-Val. Place Saint-Brice, rue Saint-Martin-au-Val - Chartres (Eure-et-Loir - Centre-Val de Loire). Rapport intermediaire de fouilles archeologiques programmees. Chartres, France. Ville de Chartres - Direction de l'Archeologie. 2018, pp 64 (in French).
  8. Dufour B, Segard M, Le Bailly M. A First Case of Human Trichuriasis from a Roman Lead Coffin in France. Korean J Parasitol 2016; 54: 625-629. https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.5.625
  9. Dufour B, Le Bailly M. Testing new parasite egg extraction methods in paleoparasitology and an attempt at quantification. Int J Paleopathol 2013; 3: 199-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2013.03.008
  10. Ash LR, Orihel TC. Ash & Orihel's atlas of human parasitology. 5th ed. Chicago, USA. ASCP Press. 2007, pp 540.
  11. Dufour B. Synthese de donnees et nouvelle contribution a l'etude des parasites de l'epoque romaine, et apports methodologiques de l'extraction des marqueurs au traitement des resultats (dissertation). Besancon, France. University of Bourgogne Franche-Comte. 2015, pp 361 (in French).
  12. Bouchet F, Guidon N, Dittmar K, Harter S, Ferreira LF, Chaves SM, Reinhard K, Araujo A. Parasite remains in archaeological sites. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2003; 98 (suppl): 47-52. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762003000900009
  13. Kaufmann J. Infections of Domesticated Animals: A Diagnostic Manual. Basel, Switzerland. Birkhauser. 1996, pp 423.
  14. Soulsby EJL. Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticates Animals. 7th ed. London, UK. Bailliere Tindall. 1982, pp 809.
  15. Taylor MA, Coop RL, Wall RL. Veterinary Parasitology. 3rd ed. Oxford, UK. Blackwell Publishing. 2007, pp 900.
  16. Le Bailly M, Bouchet F. Diphyllobothrium in the past: review and new records. Int J Paleopathol 2013; 3: 182-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2013.05.004
  17. Mitchell PD. Human parasites in the Roman World: health consequences of conquering an empire. Parasitology 2017; 144: 48-58. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182015001651
  18. Charlier P. L'embaumement: rituel et symbole de pouvoir en Occident. Histoire des Sciences Medicales 2015; 49: 99-104 (in French).
  19. Georges P. L'embaumement medieval des nantis. Dossier Pour la Science 2006; 50: 98-101 (in French).
  20. Racz SE, De Araujo EP, Jensen E, Mostek C, Morrow JJ, Van Hove ML, Bianucci R, Willems D, Heller F, Araujo A, Reinhard KJ. Parasitology in an archaeological context: analysis of medieval burials in Nivelles, Belgium. J Archaeol Sci 2015; 53: 304-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2014.10.023
  21. Charlier P, Durigon M. L'apport de la medecine legale a la paleopathologie. In Charlier P ed, Osteo-archeologie et techniques medico-legales: tendances et perspectives: pour un "Manuel pratique de paleopathologie humaine". Paris, France. De Boccard. 2008, pp 55-69 (in French).