Paleoparasitological analysis applied to museum-curated sacra from Meridional Patagonian collections

We analyzed residue of sediment recovered from sacral foramina for evidence of parasites. The sacra had been excavated from Meridional Patagonian inhumations and had been cleaned as part of the museum curating process. Using small brushes, sediments were collected from the foramina. The sediments were rehydrated in a trisodium phosphate solution and analyzed using paleoparasitological techniques. Nematode eggs identified as Capillaria spp. and Ascaris lumbricoides were found. These results showed that small amounts of sediment can be recovered from museum collections, even after bones have been cleaned. The results showed the importance of preserving sediments, as well as other materials obtained after cleaning archaeological remains, to perform parasite and food residue analyses, and the importance of studying the museum collections as sources for analysis of ancient parasitism and diet. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.