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DISCOVERING THE DISEASES OF SLAVERY COMBINING ARCHAEOLOGY & BIOLOGY JESSICA HENDY The Transatlantic Slave Trade Discovering Ancient Diseases The transatlantic slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries saw 12 million African people transported to the New World. To learn about diseases suffered by enslaved people we are using cutting edge techniques to analyse DNA and proteins left behind on archaeological skeletons, in order to discover the preserved evidence of ancient disease. To support European economies enslaved Africans were forced to work in American colonies, producing goods like sugar and coffee. This evidence can be found in preserved dental plaque. Although it seems unusual, it’s a great way to find these pathogens. Slavery and the Spread of Diseases Studying these diseases helps to piece together a picture of life during this era and may give us useful information for understanding the diseases themselves. Slave ships bringing captives to their fate also carried infectious diseases, like smallpox, malaria and yellow fever, parasites and disease-carrying organisms. The slave trade resulted in the spread of introduced diseases, decimating communities of Native Americans and causing widespread suffering for enslaved people. How the Past Matters Now Diseases, like yellow fever, which spread among populations via the slave trade continue to affect millions of people in Africa and the Americas. Understanding how bacteria and viruses evolve is crucial for managing diseases in the present day. When we look at diseases from history, we can find evidence of this evolution. This helps us understand why the descendants of enslaved people continue to be affected by the diseases of the slave trade. [email protected] Supervisor: Matthew Collins www.eurotast.eu