Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed two 16th-century toddler burials with clear evidence of smallpox, indicating rapid spread of this foreign illness following European contact.
A 16th-century cemetery in Peru has yielded the remains of two toddlers whose skeletons vividly demonstrate the devastating impact of smallpox during the early-colonial period. This significant find offers crucial insights into the earliest infectious diseases associated with European colonization, as detailed in a recent study.
Recent excavations at Huanchaco, a coastal town in northwest Peru, revealed a cemetery linked to a colonial church established by the Spanish between 1535 and 1540. Among the 120 burials representing the early-colonial population, the graves revealed cultural transformations like reed crosses and European glass beads integrated with Indigenous burial practices.
Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, emerged as a leading cause of death in the Americas after European contact, arriving in northwest Peru with Francisco Pizarro and his expedition in the late 1530s. This introduction led to catastrophic mortality among the native Inca population, with an estimated 70% decline by 1620, underscoring the profound impact of infectious diseases during colonization.
The excavation unearthed skeletal remains of two children aged around 18 months, displaying characteristic bone lesions consistent with osteomyelitis variolosa triggered by smallpox. These lesions, resembling moth holes, were found across joints including shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, marking the earliest documented cases of such pathology in South America.
Notably, children comprised 75% of the early-colonial burials at Huanchaco, with infants and toddlers particularly vulnerable due to their developing immune systems. The high incidence of smallpox-related skeletal changes in these young individuals suggests widespread exposure to the disease, shedding light on its rapid transmission and devastating impact on Indigenous populations.
While the exact duration of illness for these children remains uncertain, the severity of skeletal infection indicates that they likely endured smallpox for several weeks before succumbing to its effects. This archaeological evidence underscores the importance of identifying signs of ancient diseases like smallpox to better understand their historical spread and impact on Indigenous communities during the early-colonial period.
