Is Paleopathology a Word?

Paleopathology, also spelled palaeopathology, is the study of ancient diseases and injuries in organisms through the examination of fossils, mummified tissue, skeletal remains, and analysis of coprolites. ... Looking at the individual roots of the word "Paleopathology" can give a basic definition of what it encompasses.

What does paleopathology mean?

Paleopathology encompasses the study of disease, both human and nonhuman, in antiquity using a variety of different sources including human mummified and skeletal remains, ancient documents, illustrations from early books, painting and sculpture from the past, and analysis of coprolites.

Why do we study paleopathology?

Paleopathology is the study of the evidence of trauma, disease, and congenital defects in human remains. Archaeologists, geneticists, and physical anthropologists, conduct paleopathology studies in order to evaluate the effects of disease upon ancient populations.