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Skeletons point to Columbus voyage for syphilis origins
Emory University ^ | December 20, 2011

Posted on 12/20/2011 1:17:42 PM PST by decimon

More evidence emerges to support that the progenitor of syphilis came from the New World

Skeletons don't lie. But sometimes they may mislead, as in the case of bones that reputedly showed evidence of syphilis in Europe and other parts of the Old World before Christopher Columbus made his historic voyage in 1492.

None of this skeletal evidence, including 54 published reports, holds up when subjected to standardized analyses for both diagnosis and dating, according to an appraisal in the current Yearbook of Physical Anthropology. In fact, the skeletal data bolsters the case that syphilis did not exist in Europe before Columbus set sail.

"This is the first time that all 54 of these cases have been evaluated systematically," says George Armelagos, an anthropologist at Emory University and co-author of the appraisal. "The evidence keeps accumulating that a progenitor of syphilis came from the New World with Columbus' crew and rapidly evolved into the venereal disease that remains with us today."

The appraisal was led by two of Armelagos' former graduate students at Emory: Molly Zuckerman, who is now an assistant professor at Mississippi State University, and Kristin Harper, currently a post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University. Additional authors include Emory anthropologist John Kingston and Megan Harper from the University of Missouri.

"Syphilis has been around for 500 years," Zuckerman says. "People started debating where it came from shortly afterwards, and they haven't stopped since. It was one of the first global diseases, and understanding where it came from and how it spread may help us combat diseases today."

(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: ancientautopsies; bejel; christophercolumbus; datsrasis; epidemics; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; pandemics; plagues; syphilis; thesniffles; treponemaldisease; yaws
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

It’s very strange that animals for the most part were never domesticated in the new world and that the wheel was never developed.


21 posted on 12/20/2011 2:06:23 PM PST by mamelukesabre
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To: americanophile

syphilis started during those long sea voyages


22 posted on 12/20/2011 2:06:46 PM PST by molson209
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To: molson209

syphilis started during those long sea voyages

butt I could be wrong LOL


23 posted on 12/20/2011 2:08:20 PM PST by molson209
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To: djf

They used to blame Europeans for bringing smallpox to the “pristine and innocent” New World... until a few years ago when proof was found in Peruvian mummies that smallpox was here at least 500 years before Columbus.

Another cliche bites the dust.


24 posted on 12/20/2011 2:10:02 PM PST by Wordkraft
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To: mamelukesabre

Yes, especially considering how they were pretty good at math and astronomy.

Doesn’t make sense.


25 posted on 12/20/2011 2:13:58 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel
res ipsa loquitor?
26 posted on 12/20/2011 2:14:58 PM PST by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: Wordkraft

Certainly possible.

That whole South America thing has had me wondering for years. Some of the monuments, roads, etc around Lake Titicaca are as impressive, if not more so, than anything found in Asia. Thousands of square miles of detailed, architected farmlands and terraces. The high altitude pics of the region are just mind boggling.


27 posted on 12/20/2011 2:21:42 PM PST by djf (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2801220/posts)
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To: decimon

My High School health/gym teacher used to tell us - when you have sex with someone, just remember you are having sex with everyone they also had sex with.


28 posted on 12/20/2011 2:22:11 PM PST by PGR88 (Sic transit gloria mundi)
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To: dog breath

The natives gave the world tobacco as well.


29 posted on 12/20/2011 2:22:29 PM PST by Amberdawn
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To: decimon

I’m sorry, but this just cannot be true. It doesn’t fit the Leftist agenda.
So poof! it will disappear.


30 posted on 12/20/2011 2:27:17 PM PST by Shimmer1 (National Procrastination Day has been postponed until tomorrow.)
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To: americanophile
Can we start protesting the native Americans?

No. But if you & your descendants play your cards right, and are patient, you might be allowed to build a casino in your backyard.

31 posted on 12/20/2011 2:28:22 PM PST by Tallguy (It's all 'Fun and Games' until somebody loses an eye!)
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To: jagusafr

But if he had not been molesting the wogs in the first place, he would not have contracted the disease!!! And brought it home to Isabella!


32 posted on 12/20/2011 2:30:17 PM PST by ichabod1 (Mr Newt!)
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To: decimon; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1010RD; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; ...

 GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach
Thanks decimon. I wonder if anyone in Hawaii has the lei of the land?

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.


33 posted on 12/20/2011 2:31:23 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! May 2013 be even Happier!)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

post hoc ergo propter hoc? Something like that?


34 posted on 12/20/2011 2:32:24 PM PST by ichabod1 (Mr Newt!)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

I mean, Post hoc ergo propter hoc? Something like that?


35 posted on 12/20/2011 2:33:15 PM PST by ichabod1 (Mr Newt!)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

I should note that the fault may lie in the reportage... the actual study would have to make some sense to get by peer review. Possibly, the skeletons all showed markers of exposure to something no other contemporary skeletons of Europeans showed?


36 posted on 12/20/2011 2:36:25 PM PST by ichabod1 (Mr Newt!)
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To: djf

titi-caca. heh. heh.


37 posted on 12/20/2011 2:42:16 PM PST by ichabod1 (Mr Newt!)
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To: mamelukesabre
They have found Inca (I think) toys with wheels but they never used the idea much, or at all, on a wider basis. Some say that's because the mountainous Peruvian terrain didn't lend itself to the use of wheeled carts but I find that dubious to say the least.
38 posted on 12/20/2011 2:44:47 PM PST by SoCal Pubbie
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To: decimon
The evidence keeps accumulating that a progenitor of syphilis came from the New World with Columbus' crew

Translation: WASP Honkey.........

39 posted on 12/20/2011 2:50:41 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (Be good, Santa is coming)
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To: Hot Tabasco
The evidence keeps accumulating that a progenitor of syphilis came from the New World with Columbus' crew

Translation: WASP Honkey.........

OSIC (Olive Spanish Italian Catholic).

40 posted on 12/20/2011 2:56:51 PM PST by decimon
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