Geneanet > Resources > Blog > Genealogy News > History

Skeletons Point to Columbus Voyage for Syphilis Origins

Posted by admin on Dec 21, 2011

Skeletons don’t lie. But sometimes they may mislead, as in the case of bones that reputedly showed evidence of syphilis in Europe and other parts of the Old World before Christopher Columbus made his historic voyage in 1492.

None of this skeletal evidence, including 54 published reports, holds up when subjected to standardized analyses for both diagnosis and dating, according to an appraisal in the current Yearbook of Physical Anthropology. In fact, the skeletal data bolsters the case that syphilis did not exist in Europe before Columbus set sail.

Source & Full Story

Log in to leave a comment. Sign In / Sign Up