Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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Morphological studies of fly puparia (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in the soil from a Joseon Dynasty grave in Korea

  • In-Yong Lee (Department of Tropical Medicine and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • In-Yong Lee (Department of Tropical Medicine and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Jung-Min Park (Department of Art History, Myongji University) ;
  • Ji Ho Seo (Department of Forensics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Bo-Young Jeon (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, College of Software and Digital Healthcare Convergence, Yonsei University) ;
  • Tai-Soon Yong (Department of Tropical Medicine and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine) ;
  • Min Seo (Department of Parasitology, Dankook University College of Medicine)
  • Received : 2023.04.14
  • Accepted : 2023.11.01
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

Archaeoentomological investigations were conducted on soil contents from a grave belonging to the Joseon Dynasty as part of the Urban Environment Maintenance Project (UEMP) in Cheongjin 12-16 dong (districts), Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea, from December 01, 2008 to February 19, 2011. A total of 28 insect puparia with hard shells of the common green bottle fly Lucilia sericata were identified in the soil. Evidence suggested that the corpse was placed outside for some days instead of being buried immediately after death. This is the first report of fly puparia in soil samples from a tomb of the Joseon Dynasty during 16-17 AD in Korea. Our findings may help determine the timeframe of burial and offer archaeological insights into the funerary customs of the period.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the Hanul Research Institute of Cultural Heritage for their support.

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