User:NativeBear4/Native American disease and epidemics

Sub-heading- Archaeology of Disease
Contagious diseases and malnutrition are leading causes of death throughout history. One of the few ways paleo scientists are able to see the expression of disease is by looking at its affect on bones, yet this offers a limited view. Most common infectious diseases caused by microorganisms, staphylococcus and streptococcus, can not be seen in the bones, instead only a few of the rarer diseases are easily seen. Tuberculosis, and the two forms of Syphilis, are considered rare and there diagnosis in osteology is controversial. To understand health at the community level scientists and health experts look at diet, rate of infections, hygiene and waste disposal.

Most diseases came to America from Europe and Asia. The one exception is Syphilis. Syphilis was considered American born and existed in the Americas before 1492

'Note from Nida (peer review): The quote you found is very informational, but you'll have to paraphrase it all since WIki doesn't allow direct quotes. The bibliography is good and you put in the sources into the edit, which is great.'