The influence of differential burial preservation on the recovery of parasite eggs in soil samples from Korean medieval tombs.
The present study showed that ancient parasite eggs, not commonly present in soil samples from medieval Korean tombs, have been found in a very limited number of cases that satisfy certain archaeological requirements. In our paleo-parasitological examination of soil samples from medieval tombs encapsulated by a lime soil mixture barrier (LSMB), parasite eggs were more commonly detected in tombs that contained remains with clothes, hair, or brain tissue, though samples from not all such tombs contained eggs. Nonetheless, there was a close correlation between the preservation of certain types of cultural or human remains and the presence of ancient parasite eggs within medieval Korean LSMB tombs. Such remains, therefore, could be regarded as a strong predictor of well-preserved ancient parasite eggs in soil samples from LSMB tombs.
Seo
Min
M
Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
Oh
Chang Seok
CS
Chai
Jong Yil
JY
Lee
Sang Jun
SJ
Park
Jun Bum
JB
Lee
Byung Hoon
BH
Park
Jee-Hee
JH
Cho
Gil Hwan
GH
Hong
Dae-Woo
DW
Park
Hyun Uk
HU
Shin
Dong Hoon
DH
D000818:Animals; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000266:history*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D010164:Paleopathology; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*
D012987:Soil