Lessons from Pandemics of the Past

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#