The impact of the Spanish colonization: Paleopathological and isotopic evidences of changes in oral health and dietary diversity in Native colonial societies from the Colombian Southwest

Abstract

Summary: Native Americansocieties suffered a profund deterioration of health under European colonization. In addition, dietdiversity and nutritional quality decreased whereas workloads and violence increased considerably.Social and cultural consequences of such contact have been well documented by archaeology, historyand ethno-history. However, the true biological impact is poorly understood. This paper assess thebiological impact of the European arrival to northern South America through the study of humanskeletal remains of two native Colonial societies from the post-contact period in the ColombianSouth West. The first sample came from “El Alto del Rey” (ca 1200-1600 a.C), at Cauca Department,and the second from “Maridías” (1615-1720 a.C), types of dental diseases were obtained as well asphysiological stress indicators and stable isotopes ratios of carbon (12C y 13C) and nitrogen (15N).These data were used to try to determine food intake, dietary diversity, nutrition, and the state oforal health of the Colombian native communities under Spanish control. Dental paleopathologicalanalyses showed a high increase in the rates of caries, dental calculus, periodontal disease,antemortem tooth loose (AMTL) and enamel hypoplasias In agreement with these results, the isotopeanalysis reveals an abrupt increase in the plants rich in carbohydrates consumption and highdependency on plants such as corn and other grains. Changes were more considerable in Maridías thanin El Alto del Rey, since the former was exposed to a longer and more direct colonial contact. Inaddition, this study suggests deep changes in diet, health and way of life of these communities. Thebioarchaeological analysis of human skeletal remains represents an important source for a betterunderstanding of the dynamics of the biocultural change resulting from colonization in Colombia. Keywords: Paleopathology. Post-contact period. Dental diseases. Stable isotopes. Paleodiet. Oralhealth. Colombian Southwest.