Improving the use of historical written sources in paleopathology
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Authors
Publication Date
2017-12Journal Title
International Journal of Paleopathology
ISSN
1879-9817
Publisher
Elsevier
Language
English
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
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Mitchell, P. (2017). Improving the use of historical written sources in paleopathology. International Journal of Paleopathology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2016.02.005
Abstract
The texts written by the people of past societies can provide key information that enhances our understanding of disease in the past. Written sources and art can describe cultural contexts that not only help us interpret lesions in excavated human remains, but also provide evidence for past disease events themselves. However, in recent decades many biohistorical articles have been published that claim to diagnose diseases present in past celebrities or well known individuals, often using less than scholarly methodology. This article aims to help researchers use historical written sources and artwork responsibly, thus improving our understanding of health and disease in the past. It explores a broad range of historical sources, from medical texts and histories to legal documents and tax records, and it highlights how the key to interpreting any past text is to understand who wrote it, when it was written, and why it was written. Case studies of plague epidemics, crucifixion, and the spinal deformity of King Richard III are then used to highlight how we might better integrate archaeological and historical evidence. When done well, integrating evidence from both archaeological and historical sources increases the probability of a complete and well-balanced understanding of disease in past societies.
Keywords
art, crucifixion, historical texts, plague, retrospective diagnosis, Richard III
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpp.2016.02.005
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/267268
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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