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Syphilis Research Paper

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Syphilis is a highly contagious disease that has been studied historically and scientifically, but the anthropological significance of this disease has not been explored as thoroughly. This disease is rare and ideal to study archaeologically as well as anthropologically for it is one of the only diseases that can be found in bones from the recent and ancient past. To understand what role syphilis plays in the anthropological grand scheme of things, there are several factors to account for. These factors include its brief history as well as its possible origins, and the biological, archaeological, and even evolutionary evidence. The first factor to consider when studying the anthropological significance of syphilis is to look at the diseases’ history. Syphilis in its known form was discovered in the new world when Columbus and his crew first arrived in the late 1492. By this time in history, the assumption is that syphilis became prevalent in the Americas (Lobdell & Owsley, 1974). Some of this evidence can be found from Archaeological excavation of sites in Mexico, Peru, Argentina, and the Ohio Burial Mounds in America (Lobdell & Owsley, 1974). When the Europeans came to North America, it is said that they contracted syphilis while the indigenous people of the new world contracted the European diseases in like …show more content…

However, the third origin theory accomplished a middle ground. As stated by Lobdell and Owsley, the third and final theory of the origin of syphilis, is that syphilis was present both in the Americas and Europe prior to 1492 and Columbus’ Voyage. These anthropologists concluded in their article that Syphilis may have indeed been on both sides of the world. Though Lobdell and Owsley were some of the first Anthropologists to discuss the origins of syphilis in modern terms, other scientists have expanded on this and have provided more evidence to understand the origins of

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