Head Lice on South American Mummies Shed Light on Ancient Virus Spread

ancient-origins.net ^ | 29 DECEMBER, 2021 - 22:00 | ASHLEY COWIE

[BenLurkin]

Using mummy head lice cement gathered from South American mummified remains dating back 1,500-2,000 years, the study’s new analysis technique can now be used when recovered bodies are void of teeth and bones. Natural History, England, and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Until the development of this new way of analyzing ancient DNA, archaeologists were restricted to samples gathered only from bone or tooth fragments . The new DNA technique was useful because most of the sampled mummies were exposed to extremely cold temperatures when they died. Lice depend on the host's head heat to gestate their eggs and they lay their eggs closer to the human scalp in colder environments, where they are better preserved.

Dr. Alejandra Perotti said, “demand for DNA samples from ancient human remains has grown in recent years” as scientific teams are more often looking at “migration and diversity in ancient human populations.” Recovering DNA from head lice cement is the perfect solution to this problem of rising scientific demand. Furthermore, the fact that nits are found on the hair and clothes of well preserved and mummified ancient humans, means there will be less need to exhume entire cemeteries looking for rare DNA-holding bone and tooth samples. For obvious reasons, South American indigenous peoples have often had issues with foreign researchers messing up their ancestors' graves in the name of science.

Analysis of the recovered DNA from nit cement revealed a genetic link between three of the mummies and humans in Amazonia around 2,000 years ago. This demonstrated that the original population of Argentina’s San Juan province had migrated from the Amazon . Furthermore, the migration pattern of human lice was mapped from the North Amazonian plains towards Central West Argentina ( San Juan Andes ).

[BenLurkin]

ping

[Lurker]

“For obvious reasons, South American indigenous peoples have often had issues with foreign researchers messing up their ancestors’ graves in the name of science.”

Grave robbers should be shot on sight.

L

[bgill]

There it is, we’re descendants of lice.

[mass55th]

Watched a British program a while back about the Great Plague of London in 1665. They conducted experiments that proved human body lice was highly responsible for spreading the disease, not just fleas. Body lice was very prevalent at that time.

[BenLurkin]

Mayflower lice!

[CatHerd]

Fascinating! Thanks for posting.

Merkel cell Polyomavirus:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3522868/

Merkel cell carcinoma is nasty. I had no idea a virus was involved.

[moovova]

I’ve had it and continually look out for a recurrence. It’s like nothing’s there one day, the next day...a pimple...a few days later a good sized wart...quarter to three-eights inch tall soon. Itchy and painful. My dermatologists/plastic surgeon cuts it out. Had several...chest, arm, leg. The doc tells me, when I hit ten, he’ll give me 25% off a facelift. He gave me a punch card. LOL.

[CatHerd]

Oh man, that’s so awful! Seriously! I am sorry you have been going through this! I have an in-law who had it and still careful, but he only had it the one time some years ago.

My Dad kept getting squamous cell carcinomas and also melanomas.

I don’t know if it helps or not for Merkel cell, but I found this in the NEJM and asked his surgeon about it and he said he had seen it, too, and enthusiastically recommended it (Vitamin B3 prevents recurrence of squamous cell by 70%). This is a quality study:

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1506197

NAC is effective against non-metastatic melanoma cell lines, but can actually cause proliferation of metastatic cells, as it interferes with the body’s natural cytotoxic T cells. Resveratrol is effective against both:

https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2149048

In case they have the same effect in Merkel cell, something to consider and discuss with your doctor. (As in, you might want to think twice about taking NAC without asking your doctor about it first.)

The above is not anywhere near the calibre of the NEJM study. There are mainly only in vitro and mouse studies available on NAC and Resveratrol re skin cancers. Still, something to consider.

[texas booster]

mummy head lice cement

Checking my resume ... nope, nothing like searching for head lice cement on it.

Bummer. That's another job category that I don't qualify for.

[bunkerhill7]

The Louse That Roared

[moovova]

I’ll research that, thanks.

Yeah, the first I became aware of it was one on my mother’s arm. She was doing nothing about it, so I set up an appt with a dermatologist. As soon as I saw one on me...I knew what it was...and was quick to respond. I also have a standing visit with the doctor every six months. Its not so bad because I stay on top of it.

Thanks again for the info.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin. Most of my GGG posting was done the day or so after the last week's digest, I've just processed the Archaeologica page for my convenience, I think there are four or five more to come, maybe today. [blush]

Archaeologica's current news links:

• December 29th, 2021 Edition
  • Norse runic text found in Oslo HeritageDaily
  • 1,898-year-old bronze military diploma found in Turkey’s Perre Daily Sabah
  • 10th century Mahavir statue discovered in Tamil Nadu's Pudukkottai village The New Indian Express
  • DNA Preserved in Lice Glue Reveals South American Mummies’ Secrets Smithsonian Magazine
• December 28th, 2021 Edition
  • Newly published research examines Mimbres immigration Phys
  • Scientists digitally ‘unwrap’ mummy of pharaoh Amenhotep I for the first time in 3,000 years EurekAlert
  • Sutton Hoo: Anglo-Saxon burial ground has record visitor figures BBC
• December 25th to December 27th, 2021 Edition
  • Archaeologists identify ancient royal tomb in China's Jiangxi Xinhua
  • X-ray analysis confirms forged date on Lincoln pardon of Civil War soldier Ars Technica
  • Rock paintings, petroglyphs discovered in Madurai cave TOI
  • Ancient tomb with prayer-related murals found in China's Shanxi Xinhua
  • Elamite clay tablet unearthed in mysterious Burnt City Tehran Times
  • Historical coin minted during King David's reign found in Georgia Agenda.ge
  • Human, animal remains, jewelry made of various materials discovered in excavations, say officials Anadolu Agency
• December 24th, 2021 Edition
  • Archaeologists unearth birch bark letter in Novgorod HeritageDaily
  • An ancient diploma, important for his holder, found by archaeologists in Bratislava The Slovak Spectator
  • Remains of plane, likely WWII B-25, discovered in Italy The Journal Gazette
  • When rocks were tools: Research offers insights into the deep past Binghamton University
    
• December 23rd, 2021 Edition
  • Garbage dump' discovered in ancient Egyptian tomb dedicated to fertility goddess Live Science
  • 4,500-year-old rope remains found in Turkey’s Seyitömer mound Daily Sabah
  • Out of Africa: The path of Homo sapiens EurekAlert
  • Wreck of last U.S. slave ship mostly intact off Alabama coast, researchers find NBC
• December 22nd, 2021 Edition
  • Underwater archaeologist advocates for diversity in field Phys
  • Ancient DNA reveals the world’s oldest family tree University of York
  • Gold ring with Jesus symbol among treasure trove found in ancient shipwreck off Israel CBS
  • Upton-upon-Severn: Iron Age settlement found during roundabout works BBC
• December 21st, 2021 Edition
  • Auckland Castle dig unearths tower remains BBC
  • Archaeologists tell of efforts to conserve ancient culture near developing dam Tehran Times
  • Tribal partnerships help Air Force archaeologists understand surprising discovery Edwards Air Force Base
• December 18th to December 20th, 2021 Edition
  • Thank God you found me': Florida officials unearth a fourth forgotten Black cemetery NPR
  • One of the largest-known Norse longhouses discovered near Viking ship burial Live Science
  • Ostrich eggshell beads reveal 50,000-year-old social network in Africa Nature
  • Brutal Viking Ritual Called 'Blood Eagle' Was Anatomically Possible, Study Shows Science Alert
  • 200,000-year-old 'mammoth graveyard' found in UK Live Science
  • The Dead’s Right to Remain Buried: New York Tribal Members Advocate for Bill to Protect Unmarked Graves Native News Online
  • Isle of Man Viking brooches go on display for first time BBC
  • Adorned 10,000-Year-Old Burial Suggests Even Infant Females Were Mourned as 'People' Science Alert
• December 17th, 2021 Edition
  • Discovering sources of Roman silver coinage from the Iberian Peninsula ScienceDaily
  • Why This Ancient Civilization Fell Out of Love With Gold for 700 Years Smithsonian Magazine
  • 1,900 year-old Roman 'battle spoils' recovered from robbers in Jerusalem Live Science
  • Millet bread and pulse dough from early iron age South India EurekAlert!
• December 16th, 2021 Edition
  • Sea level fall led to the decline of pre-Columbian societies 2,000 years ago Phys
  • JMU researchers discuss value of work with citizen scientists James Madison University
  • Sedimentary DNA and molecular evidence for early human occupation of the Faroe Islands Nature
  • Baby Buried With Care 10,000 Years Ago Found in Italian Cave Smithsonian Magazine

[SunkenCiv]

People who shoot archaeologists on sight should be shot on sight, and the rest of their families as well, as a penalty.

[M Kehoe]

This thread makes me itch.

5.56mmm

[Lurker]

How much time separates an archeologist from a grave robber?

L

[SunkenCiv]

Zero, because an archaeologist ISN’T a graverobber.

[SunkenCiv]

Mummy told us there’d be days like that.

[Lurker]

“because an archaeologist ISN’T a graverobber.”

Apparently the people whose relatives they’re digging up have a different opinion.

I don’t blame them.

L

[SunkenCiv]

Of course you don’t, you think archaeologists should be shot on sight.