Archaeoparasitological Strategy Based on the Microscopic Examinations of Prehistoric Samples and the Recent Report on the Difference in the Prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminthic Infections in the Indian Subcontinent
Dong Hoon Shin,
Yong Jun Kim,
Ravindra Singh Bisht,
Vivek Dangi,
Prabodh Shirvalkar,
Nilesh Jadhav,
Chang Seok Oh,
Jong Ha Hong,
Jong-Yil Chai,
Min Seo,
Vasant Shinde
Affiliations
Dong Hoon Shin
Lab of Anthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
Yong Jun Kim
Lab of Anthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
Ravindra Singh Bisht
Archaeological Survey of India
Vivek Dangi
Department of History, All India Jat Heroes’ Memorial College, Rohtak, Haryana
Prabodh Shirvalkar
Department of Archaeology, Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute
Nilesh Jadhav
Department of Archaeology, Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute
Chang Seok Oh
Lab of Anthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
Jong Ha Hong
Lab of Anthropology, Paleopathology and History of Diseases, Institute of Forensic Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
Jong-Yil Chai
Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul
Min Seo
Department of Parasitology, Dankook University, College of Medicine, Seoul
Vasant Shinde
Department of Archaeology, Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute
Archaeoparasitology is a study to acquire data concerning the parasite infection of ancient people through the examination of the specimens obtained in the excavation sites. Although this research has achieved many successes worldwide, there has been few noteworthy reports from South Asia countries. In 2011 to 2016, we thus conducted parasite examinations on Indian archaeological specimens (n = 247) collected at excavation sites of Mature Harappan period (4600–3900 BP) and their contemporary rural Chalcolithic sites. To derive effective strategy of archaeoparasitological works in Indian Subcontinent, our data were analyzed together with previous clinical report on the soil transmitted helminth infection in the Indian Subcontinent. We propose that future paleoparasitological studies in India should be conducted more intensely on ancient specimens from the states of Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal etc.