Dust Storm Transport of Pathogenic Microbes to Viking Scandinavia: A

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF David Carter Boling for the degree of Masters of Arts in Applied Anthropology presented June 11,2004 Title: Dust Storm Transport of Pathogenic Microbes to Vikinci Scandinavia A Query into Possible Environmental Vectors for Disease Pathogenesis ina Closed Biological and Ecological System Abstract approved: Redacted for privacy Roberta Hall This thesis is an integrated study that links several disciplines- archaeology, anthropology, geography, atmospheric sciences, and microbiology. It attempts to generate an argument that central to climate change is disequilibrium in human ecologies- inmy case, disease ecologies in Iceland during the 15th century. This thesis investigates the environment's effecton human adaptability. The effect of the environmenton Icelanders as they moved from settlement to later periods was disquieting. The climate of the worldwas changing- moving from the Medieval Warm Period to the colder Little Ice Age. I analyze the disease ecology of the i5' century and also conduct an archeological and cultural analysis of the Icelandic people, to show the deficiencies in their adaptation, and submit that certain shortcomings in their physical environment, as well as the inadequate adaptive synthesis to the environment, led to a marginal adaptation. This was augmented by political unrest and problems with outside trade, which left them vulnerable and susceptible to disease pathogenesis. I discuss the climate change during the Little Ice Age, and assert that this event is the crucible that crushed Iceland after 400 years of reasonably good fortune. Hundreds of epidemics, natural disasters, and hardships befall the Icelanders. One of them is the plague, which comes twice in the 15th century. The important observation here is that the epidemiological and archeological evidence does not always match up. The principal problem is that the traditional vector for the disease cannot have survived the climate as it was in the winters during the LIA. I offer an analysis that pontificates this issue and I examine the ongoing debate concerning The Black Death in Europe. I introduce another possible explanation: the introduction of disease through environmental vectors. The creation of disease ecologies through climate change is important, in light of problems that we face today. I discuss the phenomenon of the dust storm and its connection to disease pathogenesis. By showing several key examples of dust from Africa to disease pathogenesis in the Caribbean, I make the connection a good one. In addition to this connection is the atmospheric analysis that shows incontrovertibly that the dust found in Greenland ice cores is only from Asia. Finally, there is the fact that the inveterateladof the plague bacterium is located in the same areas that Asian Dust Events occur and travel from. I create a methodology for investigating this disease ecology andam able to show that the pathogen can be identified in situ- meaning that itcan be found in geological deposits that can be properly dated. My pilot study creates a methodology for the examination of ice cores- the principal reservoir for atmospheric deposits made during the LIA. Finally, I look at the aftermath. I introduce the idea of disease ecology, as opposed to that of a healthy ecology, and suggest by the end of the thesis that within the disease ecology are created many of the platforms for emergent biological changes that translate through evolution over time. Like the bacterium in the ice core, I suggest that evidence for disease states in the history of a people can be found through laboratory techniques. The presence of the CCR5 gene mutation is indicative of sucha presence. I believe that the presence of the delta 32 gene mutation found in Icelandic people is the result of being exposed to the plague in the 15th century. This thesis is a platform for future synoptic scale disease studies. © Copyright by David Carter Boling June 11,2004 AU Rights Reserved Dust Storm Transport of Pathogenic Microbes to Viking Scandinavia: A Query into Possible Environmental Vectors for Disease Pathogenesis ina Closed Biological and Ecological System by David Carter Boling A THESIS Submitted to Oregon State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Presented on June 11,2004 Commencement in June 2005 Master of Arts thesis of David Carter Boling Presented on June 11, 2004 APPROVED: Redacted for privacy Major Professor, ,representing Applied Anthropology Redacted for privacy Chair of the Deartment of Antropo Redacted for privacy Dean of MeG,duate School I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of Redacted for privacy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work has been a long time coming and it is finally good to have completed the writing and the merciless nights sweating it out and working through this vastly interdisciplinary endeavor. These kinds of endeavors are never easy and are not for the type that thinks shallowly, linearly, and those who are pinned to one department and one way of thinking. I have always worked on several layers and much to the chagrin of others, managed to keep up with the plethora of subjects that interested me, whether it be medical studies, engineering, molecular science & biology, medieval and occult literature, archaeology and anthropology, GIS and geography, astronomy and climatology, cartography and multimedia mapping, applied visual arts. I have also tried to maintain rigorous language studies. My wish for the future is that interdisciplinary research becomes the norm, rather than the exception and doors are swung open and a great willingness expressed from departments that sit at opposite ends of the campus. It is interesting to note just how close synthesis of ideas come and go, when academic politics, vested interests, and guarded isolation act to deride the efforts. As I have found in my research, the wall between human ecology, deoxyribonucleic acid, and dust storms is not as built up as you might think. Following my graduation in 1992 from Berea College, I quickly moved into medical anthropology and archaeology. I wanted to work as a biological anthropologist and quickly realized I would need to take a ton of science classes and get lab experience before doing so. To make ends meet, I detoured through field archaeology for ten years. In the off time, I pursued many other interests. I had a great fascination with the systems science and future human technology. With my keen design background, I wanted to incorporate this interest into a tenable working platform- one firmly grounded in biological and ecological parameters- where greenhouse technology, geodesic domes, underground building, and emergent technology are implemented to create total synthesis with exterior environment. These ideas fueled my fascination with sustainable systems and emergent technology. I spent the summers doing archaeology all around the country, and the winters taking medical and biological classes, and off time working in labs and hospitals, horse farms, building greenhouses and water gardens, landscaping, working in various offices, libraries, an investment brokerage, and even construction from time to time. I also traveled the world and continued my study of languages (Spanish, German, Russian) and cuRures specific to my interests, namely Scandinavian, Russian, and indigenous Arctic peoples. I did archaeology digs in the summer and sat in cold classrooms in the winter. This was a 10 year endeavor and was not the easiest existence. I began taking biological anthropology classes at the University of Kentucky, chiefly under the guidance of Dr. Susan Abbott, and Dr. Deborah Crookes. To complement my work in biological anthropology, I also took classes at the medical school. The friends that have watched me work over the past couple of years know the hardship that archaeology brings. Its tough miserable work and not everyone can tough it out. Mostly it's the constant travel and sleeping in mud huts and Motel 6's. Many people have come into my life since the early nineties when I took my first anthropology class at Berea College in 1990 and did field school at the Shaker Village in Kentucky in the summer of 1992. Beginning in Berea, where my youthful naiveté was molded by thoughtful progressives and driven thinkers, especially the Farmhouse Crew- you know who you are- Thanks so much for the good times! The days spent cycling through Appalachia gave me a lot of time to cogitate and begin my ecological thinking. The Friday discussions with Dr. Michael Berheide from Political Science were legendary (even in his own words). We discussed current political events, quantum physics, statistics, the meaning of life and death, religion, and emerging sciences. We even touched upon the strange and unusual world of the paranormal and metaphysics. These discussions were something that were never planned; I usually felt the need to talk and talk I did. I would race over from wherever I was on campus and try to catch him around 3:30 or 4:00- before he left for the weekend. This serendipitous discussion usually left me in a state of epiphany. I find myself looking for the same thing- every Friday, wherever I am in the world. Thank you Mike! I cannot talk about influences without talking of my friends- though some have come and gone, I would like to thank those who gave patience, guidance, and perseverance when I needed it. First of all, I want to thank my friends Barry McNees, Doug Owens, Rob Gibbs, and Jan Hunter. They have provided much in the last couple of years and have always been there when I needed to talk- or bitch as was mostly the case. They are all amazing funny and have been there through every bad idea, and failed romance I have had. My creativity and spiritual aspects have been augmented by my friend Chris Eaton, a brilliant architect that fused quantum physics and design principles.

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