Neonate Human Remains: A Window of Opportunity to the Molecular Study of Ancient Syphilis

Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis can be a useful tool in bacterial disease diagnosis in human remains. However, while the recovery of Mycobacterium spp. has been widely successful, several authors report unsuccessful results regarding ancient treponemal DNA, casting doubts on the usefulness of this technique for the diagnosis of ancient syphilis. Here, we present results from an analysis of four newborn specimens recovered from the crypt of “La Ermita de la Soledad” (XVI–XVII centuries), located in the province of Huelva in the southwest of Spain. We extracted and analyzed aDNA in three independent laboratories, following specific procedures generally practiced in the aDNA field, including cloning of the amplified DNA fragments and sequencing of several clones. This is the most ancient case, reported to date, from which detection of DNA from T. pallidum subspecies pallidum has been successful in more than one individual, and we put forward a hypothesis to explain this result, taking into account the course of the disease in neonate individuals

Archaeothanatology as a Tool for Interpreting Death During Pregnancy: A Proposed Methodology Using Examples from Medieval Ireland

Archaeothanatoloy involves assessment of the changes a corpse undergoes from the time of death from both biological and social perspectives. It considers decomposition processes in conjunction with mortuary practices and the approach has been applied to a wide range of burial contexts. There has, however, been limited application of the technique when interpreting the remains of women buried with potentially unborn infants. Detailed investigation of the direct physical relationship between a mother and her unborn baby has the potential to provide nuanced information about the health status of both individuals and their cause of death. The chapter presents a method of evaluating potential contemporary mother-infant burials to ensure the maximum amount of information is retrieved and to improve interpretations. The value of applying an archaeothanatological approach is evidenced through three case studies of mother-infant pairs recovered from Medieval Ireland