Archaeology and the Pandemic: How Archaeology Can Help with Our Response

People wearing masks during the 1918 Inflenza
Pandemic. (courtesy of The Seattle Times)

You have probably heard the current COVID-19 pandemic compared to the 1918 influenza epidemic or perhaps the bubonic plague that swept across Asia and Europe in the 1300s. Both these events may seem long ago, but to archaeologists they seem relatively recent, especially the 1913 flu epidemic. The archaeological record indicates that since humans have existed, so has disease. Bioarchaeologists find evidence of such in ancient skeletal material. Historic archaeologists find evidence of it in the written record. Many archaeologists have uncovered artifacts relating to ancient diseases. It is something that humans have always had to deal with and have always sought to better understand. 

You may think that I am about to go on about how learning from history can prevent us from repeating it. But it is a lot more complex than that. We don't want to fall into the logical fallacy of what is referred to as the "appeal to antiquity". Looking to the past for insight into current events is a lot different than looking to repeat what folks did in the past. Remember, in the past people did a lot of things wrong, even in an effort to do good. Ever heard of the Miasma Theory? Medical experts used to believe that diseases such as cholera and the black plague were spread via miasmas, or foul air emanating from rotting organic material. It was even believed that obesity could be caused by a person smelling too much food. Obviously we now know that to be false.

 Archaeologists are by no means first responders, but we can offer unique insight into how our past

The Tuskegee Experiment left 400 African
Americans believing they were receiving 
syphillis treatment, when the experiment was 
actually examining the effects of untreated syphillis. This 
study resulted in a serious distrust of medical experts 
among African Americans. (courtesy of asbmd.org)

influences our response to things like COVID-19. Archaeologists and historians that study colonialism and the African diaspora, as well as more recent African American history, can provide insight regarding how past racial injustices in our country have influenced both medical expert response to the pandemic, as well as the response by the African American community. Archaeologists and anthropologists could potentially be tapped as mediators between medical experts and the African American community to help ensure that these, and other minority communities, are getting the help they need, while shedding light on past issues that medical experts may not be sensitive to or aware of.

 Many of our major cities are located where they are because of past trade routes. Many are located in coastal areas or along major bodies of water. We have continued to occupy pretty much the same areas, just in higher densities. Historic records indicate that most early urban civilizations suffered from outbreaks of various diseases, from typhoid to the black death. Non-urban villages suffered much less, as they were able to easily isolate themselves and restrict who entered their village. In the 16th through 18th century, Native Americans tried something similar when they were fighting European diseases, such as small pox. Today it is much harder to isolate even rural communities due to our much greater population density, mobility, as well as globalized trade. However, looking to history we can perhaps see value in being more self-sustaining, which would make isolation less difficult and create more stable supply chains. 

 If the archaeological record is any indication, disease is not going anywhere. Even with all our latest medical technology, COVID-19 shows us that new diseases will probably continue to pop up and challenge us as a society. In addition to that, we also have the challenge of climate change, which could exacerbate issues relating to disease, including inequity and access to resources. Archaeology, as well as other social sciences, can be of great benefit in assisting with our response to these challenges.

Further Resources:

http://www.cambridgeblog.org/2020/05/what-can-archaeology-do-to-help-fight-pandemic-diseases/

https://theconversation.com/what-the-archaeological-record-reveals-about-epidemics-throughout-history-and-the-human-response-to-them-138408

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