First Paleoparasitological Analysis of a Midden in the Aleutian Islands (Alaska): Results and Limits

Abstract

Excavations on Buldir Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, have revealed the remains of several features dated between the 13th and 17th centuries A.D. Soil from an open-air workshop, represented by 2 excavated pits, and a structure built of whale bones were sampled for evidence of parasites and microfloristic remains. Two groups of helminth eggs (Diphyllobothrium and Ankylostomidae) were identified in samples from the open-air pits; microfloristical remains were found in all samples. This is the first paleoparasitological analysis conducted on an Aleutian midden.

Parasite remains in archaeological sites

“…Among other well-known finds are the Pazyryk bodies in the Altai mountains (Hart Hansen 1998). Several reports of parasitic eggs exist from the finds mentioned above (Zimmerman 1998, Bouchet et al 1999, Aufderheide & Rodríguez-Martín 1998.…”

Preliminary archaeoentomological analyses of permafrost-preserved cultural layers from the pre-contact Yup'ik Eskimo site of Nunalleq, Alaska: Implications, potential and methodological considerations

“…Lutz 1973;Shaw 1998;Frink 2007) and occasionally investigated using environmental archaeology approaches (e.g. Bouchet et al 1999;Knudson et al 2004), though never using archaeoentomological methods. One of the most promising applications of archaeoentomology at Nunalleq thus lies in its use in examining the spatial organisation of activities.…”

Animal helminths in human archaeological remains: a review of zoonoses in the past

“…In addition to the findings cited above, BOUCHET et al 17,20 found eggs from genus Diphyllobothrium in samples from Alaska.…”