Keywords

treponemal infection; treponemal disease; paleopathology

Abstract

Treponemal diseases, including bejel, yaws, pinta, and venereal syphilis, have long plagued human populations and continue to pose public health challenges today. Despite their persistent global presence, the origins, transmission pathways, and archaeological identification of these diseases—caused by various subspecies of Treponema pallidum—remain contested. This study explores the utility of standardized diagnostic criteria, as proposed by Baker et al. (2020), in assessing the presence of treponemal disease in highly fragmentary skeletal remains from the Roman-period necropolis at Dayr al Barsha, Egypt. Through the examination of 14 individuals, this research seeks to (1) identify indicators consistent with bejel (T.p. endemicum), (2) evaluate the effectiveness of standardized methodologies for diagnosing disease in incomplete remains, and (3) assess the potential for population-level diagnosis in the absence of pathognomonic indicators in any single individual. Findings suggest that while fragmentary remains pose diagnostic challenges, holistic, population-level approaches—supported by mortuary context and disease patterning—can enhance our understanding of treponemal disease in past populations. This study underscores the need for consistent, comprehensive diagnostic frameworks to refine paleopathological interpretations and improve the reliability of disease identification in archaeological research.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Williams, Lana

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Anthropology

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029578

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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