A new discovery from Māori archaeological sites on Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand, reveals a widely distributed, commensal dog parasite

Abstract

Here we present helminthological analysis of archaeological substrates and coprolites from Coromandel Peninsula. One type of helminth egg, Toxocara canis, was identified.

The presence of a single species in numerous samples across widely separate sites dating from 1290-1665 AD suggests it was the most common New Zealand canine helminth parasite in pre-contact times. The distinctive morphology of T. canis eggs makes them readily identified in archaeological contexts, and more so once damaged or degraded eggs are learnt to be identified. The study illustrates the potential value of this type of analysis in Oceania. This is the first multi-site, regional archaeoparasite egg study in Oceania.

Keywords

Polynesia, Ascaridida, Carnivora.