Archaeological study is not simply the study of the past. It is a vehicle to understanding our past to
help with present situations, either by understanding, preparing for, or
solving modern problems. This is why
archaeologists have studied a variety of issues that happened frequently in the
past and may, or currently are, happening today, such as the archaeology of epidemics
and pandemics. This blog post will
explore what archaeologists have learned from studying plagues of the past and how
this information can inform us today in appropriately dealing with the current
Covid-19 Pandemic.
Epidemics and pandemics have occurred among human
populations for millennia. Prehistoric
records demonstrate a cyclical nature of plagues, dating as far back to ancient
Mesopotamia. Despite these catastrophic
instances human beings, as a species, have managed to survive, and they have evolved
biologically and culturally as a result.
Notable studies of the Black Plague, which was historically chronicled
throughout Europe but also affected Asia and Africa, have provided some of the
greatest insights into the biological and cultural effects of plagues. Studies of plagues that hit various
indigenous populations throughout the New World also demonstrate similar
findings to the Black Plague studies. Together,
these studies show that the most vulnerable and at-risk populations are those
who are impoverished and marginalized. Impoverished
peoples tend to have less access to medical assistance, clean water, and
nutritionally rich foods, all of which put them at greater risk of dying from
plagues. Marginalized groups, specifically
minorities (aka, anyone that the society deems as an outsider or unworthy of
the same rights and privileges of the majority group[s]), are also at greater
risk, often times for the same reasons as impoverished groups. Marginalized groups also face greater barriers
to accessing medical assistance, particularly as they are often provided poor
or no medical help. As a result, both
impoverished and marginalized groups tend to be unhealthier, having suffered
previous assaults to their health, which also puts them at greater risk to
plagues. Those with poorer health
statuses throughout their lifetimes (e.g. those with pre-existing conditions or
those who are medically frail due to age or acquired medical conditions) are
also at greater risk of plagues. This is
very much present in our modern situations as the Covid-19 virus is hitting
those in these groups (e.g. impoverished, marginalized, and medically frail)
groups hardest.
Additionally, studies of New World and African epidemics
provide insights into how to protect populations from spreading disease. Lessons from past African civilizations demonstrate
that abandoning and burning infected areas, resettling further apart from each
other, physically distancing oneself from larger groups of people, abstaining
from touching and cremating the dead, and physically isolating the sick and
dying are all successful means of deterring the spread of plagues both over
geographic distance and over time. Several
of these actions (e.g. social distancing and physical isolation of the sick and
dying) are being promoted today, and when they are adhered to are actually
quite successful in stopping the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
The Aztecs of Mexico also provide recommendations for
deterring the spread of diseases and plagues.
The Aztec rulers actually passed down lessons about how to appropriately
handle pandemics as they were beginning and ongoing, which led to much success
over time. The Aztec leaders were expected
to remain calm during the uncertain times leading up to and during the
pandemic. They were to speak truthfully
and without the intention of harming anyone, be it their own citizens or foreigners. This enabled them to maintain the faith of
their citizens and keep outsiders from realizing they were weak, thereby
enacting invasion techniques or other actions that would further harm the Aztecs
as a whole. The Aztec ruler was expected
to keep the people happy and hopeful or else he risked losing his station or
his life. It was also the responsibility
of the Aztec ruler to mobilize the medical teams to help those in greatest need
during a pandemic, which also aided in stopping the spread of the diseases.
Archaeological studies not only provide understanding of what
happened during epidemics and pandemics.
They also show what happens after such events occur. Human populations can and do survive disease
outbreaks, but not without dramatically changing culturally as a result. The Black Plague in Europe killed upwards of
30-60% of populations across Europe, leading to a great loss in human labor. This demand led to increased wages among the
poor, bringing many out of poverty, but it also caused the wealthy to lose much
of their wealth (without necessarily losing their status, however). The lack of wealth and heirs among the upper
classes also provided opportunities for the middle class to purchase lands and
accumulate their own modest wealth stores.
Over time these groups, if they invested their money and energies
appropriately, became the new wealthy, eventually returning to the system that
existed prior to the epidemic or pandemic.
Ultimately, these archaeological studies provide insights
and hope in this tumultuous time of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Archaeologists had warned that another
pandemic was coming and used their knowledge as a cautionary tale on how to
avoid such large scale fall out. While
it may be too late for some this does not mean that we cannot apply the lessons
of the past to the present to mitigate the fall out further. Also, the lessons from the aftermath of past
plagues shows that there may be greater opportunities for those who survive,
but that is only if there are survivors left to take advantage of those prospects. Therefore, let us learn from the mistakes of
the past and heed the medical advice of modern medical professionals because
what they propose actually did successfully work for our ancestral groups, meaning
practice appropriate social distancing, quarantine if you are sick, and provide
appropriate medical assistance to those in need.
References
Bowles, D. (2020, May 10). Aztec Kings Had Rules
for Plagues, Including ‘Do Not Be a Fool’. Retrieved from Zocalo:
https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2020/05/10/aztec-king-rules-plague-covid-19-survival/ideas/essay/
Chirikure, S. (2020, May 14). Archaeology shows
how ancient African societies managed pandemics . Retrieved from The
Conversation: https://theconversation.com/archaeology-shows-how-ancient-african-societies-managed-pandemics-138217
DeWitte, S. N. (2016). Archaeological Evidence of
Epidemics Can Inform Future Epidemics. Annual Review of Anthropology,
63-77.
Wade, L. (2020, May 14). From Black Death to
fatal flu, past pandemics show why people on the margins suffer most.
Retrieved from Science:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/black-death-fatal-flu-past-pandemics-show-why-people-margins-suffer-most#
