Throughout history, humans have been afflicted by parasitic worms, and eggs are readily detected in archaeological deposits. This study integrated parasitological and ancient DNA methods with a large sample set dating between Neolithic and Early Modern periods to explore the utility of molecular archaeoparasitology as a new approach to study the past. Molecular analyses provided unequivocal species-level parasite identification and revealed location-specific epidemiological signatures. Faecal–oral transmitted nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura) were ubiquitous across time and space. By contrast, high numbers of food-associated cestodes (Diphyllobothrium latum and Taenia saginata) were restricted to medieval Lübeck. The presence of these cestodes and changes in their prevalence at approximately 1300 CE indicate substantial alterations in diet or parasite availability. Trichuris trichiura ITS-1 sequences grouped into two clades; one ubiquitous and one restricted to medieval Lübeck and Bristol. The high sequence diversity of T.t.ITS-1 detected in Lübeck is consistent with its importance as a Hanseatic trading centre. Collectively, these results introduce molecular archaeoparasitology as an artefact-independent source of historical evidence.

Helminth infections are among the World Health Organization’s top neglected diseases with significant impact in many Less Economically Developed Countries. Despite no longer being endemic in Europe, the widespread presence of helminth eggs in archaeological deposits indicates that helminths represented a considerable burden in past European populations. Prevalence of infection is a key epidemiological feature that would influence the elimination of endemic intestinal helminths, for example, low prevalence rates may have made it easier to eliminate these infections in Europe without the use of modern anthelminthic drugs. To determine historical prevalence rates we analysed 589 grave samples from 7 European sites dated between 680 and 1700 CE, identifying two soil transmitted nematodes ( Ascaris spp. and Trichuris trichiura ) at all locations, and two food derived cestodes ( Diphyllobothrium latum and Taenia spp.) at 4 sites. The rates of nematode infection in the medieval populations (1.5 to 25.6% for T . trichiura ; 9.3–42.9% for Ascaris spp.) were comparable to those reported within modern endemically infected populations. There was some evidence of higher levels of nematode infection in younger individuals but not at all sites. The genetic diversity of T . trichiura ITS-1 in single graves was variable but much lower than with communal medieval latrine deposits. The prevalence of food derived cestodes was much lower (1.0–9.9%) than the prevalence of nematodes. Interestingly, sites that contained Taenia spp. eggs also contained D . latum which may reflect local culinary practices. These data demonstrate the importance of helminth infections in Medieval Europe and provide a baseline for studies on the epidemiology of infection in historical and modern contexts. Since the prevalence of medieval STH infections mirror those in modern endemic countries the factors affecting STH decline in Europe may also inform modern intervention campaigns.

The best agreement with anatomical stature among our newly developed equations was obtained using femoral+tibial length, followed by femoral length. Upper limb bone lengths resulted in higher %PEs. Variation in the tibia is likely to contribute most to potential bias in stature estimation. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:312-324, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Publikace vznikla v rámci řešení projektu Grantové agentury ČR "Mezi Velkou a přemyslovskou Moravou. Archeologie kolapsu a oživení raně středověké společnosti" (reg. č. P405/12/0111). Její vydání bylo podpořeno Filozofickou fakultou Masarykovy univerzity. Antropologická část výzkumu byla podpořena projektem "Lidé na sklonku Velké Moravy: bioarcheologická a tafonomická analýza nového pohřebiště u rotundy na severovýchodním předhradí Pohanska u Břeclavi" (reg. č. GAČR 14-22823S).

Publikace vznikla v rámci řešení projektu Grantové agentury ČR "Mezi Velkou a přemyslovskou Moravou. Archeologie kolapsu a oživení raně středověké společnosti" (reg. č. P405/12/0111). Její vydání bylo podpořeno Filozofickou fakultou Masarykovy univerzity. Antropologická část výzkumu byla podpořena projektem "Lidé na sklonku Velké Moravy: bioarcheologická a tafonomická analýza nového pohřebiště u rotundy na severovýchodním předhradí Pohanska u Břeclavi" (reg. č. GAČR 14-22823S).