A human skull discovered by archaeologists on an uninhabited Caribbean Island has been found. The skull dates back to more than 200 years. Leprosy signs are also visible. This is just one example of a western skeleton.
Petite Mustique was home to the discovery of an ancient skull that dates back either to late 18th- or early 19th centuries.
Historical records indicate that this island, which is 100 acres in size, was part of St. Vincent & the Grenadines. It may have served as a leprosarium or hospital for leprosy patients, sometime around the 19th century.
According to some authors, the Leprosarium could have been founded around 1806, they wrote.
A human skull found on an uninhabited Caribbean island was discovered by archaeologists. It shows evidence of leprosy.
Petite Mustique was home to the skull. It dates back either to late 18th century or early nineteenth century.
Scott Fitzpatrick (University of Oregon archaeologist) used radiocarbon dating to date a skull fragment.
Fitzpatrick stated in a statement that “there are quite a few well-known cases, in the Caribbean, and Pacific, where smaller islands were used to segregate people suffering from leprosy such as Molokai, Hawaii.”
Leprosy may have been brought to Ireland as early as the 10th century, by the Vikings, but written evidence of leprosy in the western hemisphere, specifically in the Caribbean, has been sparse.
Although evidence has been found by separate groups, it is possible to cause inflammation of nerves, skin, and eyes in skeletons. However, this evidence is not common.
Archaeologists determined that the individual had leprosy on the basis of skeletal deformations at the nose, upper jaw and mouth.
Archaeologists determined that the individual had leprosy on the basis of skeletal deformations at the nose, upper jaw and mouth.
Experts may be able to use the new skull that was discovered near the west end of the southern landing area on the atoll in 2003, as a further source of information.
The study stated that despite the fact that the Petite Mustique 1 discovery and recovery were difficult, it adds to the understanding of leprosy throughout the Western Hemisphere.
According to the results, archaeologists including Nelson determined that the individual had leprosy. The findings were based on bone deformations in the nose as well as the upper jaw.
The researchers concluded that PM1 contained all features of the rhinomaxillary disorder as they are currently understood.
‘Because of the disease’s limited time depth in the Americas, skeletal remains with leprosy are few and those that are known date to the mid-19th century, or later.
“By linking together radiocarbon dating, historical records and oral history, we can see that PM1 is a date to an attempt at establishing a leprosarium in Petite Mustique within the first decade.
This disease is spread through close contact. But due to the obvious effects on skin and hair (hands, feet, and faces), Nelson stated that it was an extremely scary disease. He also suggested that there were moves made to isolate those suffering from leprosy.
This study was published recently in International Journal of Paleopathology.
Leprosy was finally discovered in wild chimpanzees last month when two West African populations of chimpanzees had lumps on their faces.