A bioarqueologia de uma memória esquecida: cemitério de bexiguentos dos caboclos em Frei Martinho, Paraíba

Abstract

This study examines the Cemetery of the Smallpox Victims (Cemitério de Bexiguentos) in Frei Martinho, Paraíba, a historical testament to the epidemics that affected Brazil in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Containing the remains of marginalized individuals, the research aims to identify skeletal remains with biological markers of diseases and conduct microscopic, histopathological, and tomographic analyses. Guided by translational bioarchaeology, the study seeks to understand diseases from the past. The cultural and historical analysis of the buried populations enriches contemporary cultural knowledge and supports public health policies. The methodologies employed include specialized literature reviews, histopathological analysis of teeth and demineralized cranial bones in EDTA, computed tomography scans, and macroscopic analysis through comparison with medical atlases, aided by forensic anthropology and odontology. The findings revealed the estimated age (9 years old), the probable female sex of the individual, and archaeological observations of the remains. The absence of a significant funerary set and the condition of the skull suggest the burial of impoverished individuals without dignified funeral rites. Due to the material's condition, it was not possible to identify biomarkers of infectious diseases. However, the discoveries confirmed historical accounts previously described only in historiographical records.