Elsevier

Journal of Archaeological Science

Volume 53, January 2015, Pages 304-315
Journal of Archaeological Science

Parasitology in an archaeological context: analysis of medieval burials in Nivelles, Belgium

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2014.10.023Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Coprolites were recovered from three burials in Nivelles, Belgium.

  • Parasite egg concentration values from Burial 122 represent an unprecedented case of extreme parasitism.

  • Statistical analyses revealed co-infection between A. lumbricoides egg and T. trichiura egg presence (eggs per gram [epg]: r2 = 0.58; eggs per coprolite [epc]: r2 = 0.71).

  • Differential parasite egg preservation was discussed in light of a variety of taphonomic factors.

Abstract

Coprolites were recovered from three burials near the Grand Place of Nivelles, Belgium. These remains yielded evidence of geohelminth parasitism. The evidence contributes to studies of differential parasite egg preservation related to the taphonomic conditions within the three burials. Using coprolite analysis techniques, parasite egg concentrations were quantified for each burial. Coprolites from the individual in Burial 122 were abnormally large and abundant, indicating an intestinal blockage. Additionally, this individual hosted an extremely high number of parasites evinced by the calculated parasite egg concentrations (Trichuris trichiura = 1,577,679 total eggs; Ascaris lumbricoides = 202,350 total eggs). Statistical analyses revealed a positive and significant correlation between A. lumbricoides egg and T. trichiura egg presence (eggs per gram [epg]: r2 = 0.583; eggs per coprolite [epc]: r2 = 0.71). Burial 122 coprolites show a statistically significant increase in egg concentration from the upper colon to the lower colon. Taking extreme parasitism into consideration, the possible causes of the intestinal blockage are discussed. We propose a synergy of high parasite burden and diet contributed to the intestinal blockage. Superior parasite egg preservation was observed in coprolites from Burial 122 compared to Burials 009 and 119. This is due to a variety of taphonomic factors, including a more limited percolation of fluid through the grave sediment.

Introduction

The abbatial complex of Nivelles, erected in the 7th Century, was composed of three churches: Notre-Dame, St. Paul, and Saint-Pierre/Sainte-Gertrude (Fig. 1). Notre-Dame was initially the abbey church and later became the parish church. The church of St. Paul housed a male community. Saint-Pierre/Sainte-Gertrude, named for first abbess Gertrude, was initially the funeral church. It later received St. Gertrude's body and became the main church.

Renovations at the Grand Place of Nivelles disturbed the subsoil in the historical heart of the city from early March 2009 until January 2011. Although some features excavated at Nivelles were known from ancient texts, many are new to the historical record of the region. Given the significant impact of the unearthing of such features, the Department of Archaeology of the Public Service of Wallonia intervened in the renovation efforts. The archaeological excavations uncovered seven distinct sets of features: 1) scattered features older than the abbey, 2) a tiler's work area, 3) a graveyard to the west, 4) St. Paul's church, 5) the church of Notre-Dame with its parish cemetery, 6) the abbey's district, and 7) parts of roads.

The cemetery west of the St. Pierre/St. Gertrude church (dating to approximately 1000 A.D.) drew attention due to its excellent state of preservation. Multiple burials and anaerobic conditions allowed for optimal preservation of organic materials. Excavations of the cemetery led to further investigations of the health practices and lifestyles of the people who lived in medieval Nivelles.

The western burial ground is characterized by a short occupation period spanning from the end of the 10th to the middle of the 13th centuries (Fig. 1). The physical construction of coffins found in the cemetery varied. Three burials were examined in the present study: Burial 009, Burial 119, and Burial 122 (Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4).

Multiple radiocarbon dates were obtained from bone fragments within the burials. The individual within Burial 009 died between cal A.D. 783 and cal A.D. 1018. The individual within Burial 119 died between cal A.D. 1052 and cal A.D. 1274. The individual from Burial 122 died between cal A.D. 1025 and cal A.D. 1159. In addition to the intestinal coprolites, the individuals from these three burials retained some preserved brain matter, skin fragments, hair, and bits of fabric.

The soils surrounding the burials were comprised primarily of clay. Burial 009 exhibited saturated sediment at the time of excavation (Fig. 2). Burial 119 revealed an infiltration of sand (Table 1). Covered coffins were lidded with planks of solid wood (Fig. 3, Fig. 4). Burial 122 was tightly covered with a thick oak board, preventing the filtration of excess moisture, and was excavated into a matrix of low permeability (Fig. 4).

Coprolites were recovered from each of the three burials for analyses. A single coprolite came from Burial 009. Three coprolites were recovered from Burial 119. Eight coprolites were discovered in Burial 122. Burial 122 samples were found in the lumbar region of the spine and within the pelvic girdle. The coprolites were arranged in a nearly linear fashion (Fig. 4).

Eggs of two species of parasites were found: Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides. The eggs of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura are quite distinct in morphology. Differences between eggs of both species are summarized in Table 2. Eggs of A. lumbricoides are ovoid in shape and measure 45 μm–75 μm × 35 μm–50 μm in size (Roberts and Janovy, 2009). The eggs of T. trichiura are lemon-shaped and measure 50 μm–54 μm × 22 μm–23 μm (Yoshikawa et al., 1989). Eggs of T. trichiura also possess polar plugs at either end. Eggs of A. lumbricoides lack any type of opercula. Both of these helminths are recurrent in the European archaeoparasitological literature (Jones, 1985, Aspöck et al., 1996, Kumm et al., 2010, Bartošová et al., 2011, Brinkkemper and van Haaster, 2012, Florenzano et al., 2012, Anastasiou and Mitchell, 2013b, Mitchell et al., 2013, Searcey et al., 2013, Reinhard and Pucu, 2013, Morrow et al., 2014).

The present study examined coprolites for quantifiable evidence of helminth parasitism. Taphonomic conditions were assessed to determine differential parasite preservation. Potential intestinal pathology, as related to cause of death, was assessed.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

All samples were processed for the recovery of pollen, parasite eggs, starches, and macroremains by the Palynology and Archaeoparasitology Laboratory, University of Nebraska School of Natural Resources. The collections of these types of data are relevant to future reconstructions of diet, medicinal plant use, seasonality of death, and other aspects of pathoecology (Ferreira et al., 1983, Jones, 1985, Reinhard et al., 1986, Aspöck et al., 1996, Bouchet et al., 2003, Gonçalves et al., 2003,

Taphonomy of source material

There were no indications of arthropod, nematode, or fungal decomposers. The control sample, 9b, contained no parasites eggs which suggests that parasite eggs were not part of the sediment into which the burials were dug. The calcification of the samples indicates an alkaline chemical environment within the burials.

Different burial conditions at the time of excavation contributed to the differential preservation of the geohelminth eggs recovered from the coprolites. Contextual information,

What is known about parasite egg taphonomy and recovery?

Differential preservation of parasite eggs due to taphonomic conditions, both biotic and abiotic, has been recognized and reviewed by the field of archaeoparasitology. An array of processing methods has been developed to adjust for taphonomic conditions. In 1986, archaeoparasitologists from three labs in Germany, Brazil, and USA combined their experiences to address quantification and taphonomy (Reinhard et al., 1986). They also reviewed the extensive work of Andrew Jones's lab in England. An

Acknowledgments

The paper was revised and improved based on comments by Otto Brinkkemper (Cultural Heritage Agency, Amersfoort, the Netherlands). Thanks especially to Scott L. Gardner, Curator of the Manter Lab, for his energetic support of this research and other research into ancient parasitism. Images were taken in the Harold W. Manter Laboratory, University of Nebraska State Museum. We also thank the University of Nebraska Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experiences Program (UCARE) for lab

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      Unlike analysis of sediment from within a latrine (e.g., Anastasiou and Mitchell, 2013; Williams et al., 2017), mineralized concretions necessitate the use of dilute hydrochloric acid (10% HCl) to disaggregate helminth eggs trapped within the matrix (e.g., Ledger et al., 2018; Rácz et al., 2015). The use of 36% concentrated HCl has been shown to reduce slightly the range of species whose eggs survive processing (Dufour and Le Bailly, 2013); but dilute HCl is less damaging and does not appear to have any effect on egg size and morphology (Rácz et al., 2015; Jones, 1983). A 0.2 g subsample was weighed and transferred to a 15 mL test tube.

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