Primer estudio paleoparasitológico en restos humanos de la provincia de Córdoba (Holoceno tardío)

Paleoparasitology in Argentina has produced a number of studies, especially from Patagonia. However, investigations on parasites in past populations from the central region of the country are absent. In this regard, we performed the first research on parasite infestation in human remains from archaeological sites of the province of Cordoba. Thirteen individuals from four archaeological sites, dated of 2562 ± 47 to 533 ±57 14C years BP, were examined. Paleoparasitological analyses were conducted on 20 sediment samples from the pelvic cavity, using spontaneous sedimentation, disaggregation in hydrochloric acid, and sucrose flotation techniques. We found structures suggestive of helminth eggs of Ascaridoidea and Heterakoidea superfamilies, and of unidentified nematode eggs. As animals are the definitive hosts of the parasites found, the results could suggest the occurrence of false parasitism in the individuals from the region. The close interaction between humans and animals, incorporated as part of the diet, is supported by previous isotopic and zooarchaeological studies. The scarcity of parasite findings in this study would be attributed to taphonomic processes and the environmental characteristics of the sites.