Spatializing data in paleoparasitology: Application to the study of the Neolithic lakeside settlement of Zurich-Parkhaus-Opera, Switzerland

Paleoparasitological investigations were carried out on 124 sediment samples from the Swiss Neolithic lakeside settlement of Zurich-Parkhaus-Opera (layer 13, 3176-3153 years BCE). Analyses revealed the presence of several taxa of human and/or animal gastrointestinal parasites, including whipworm (genus Trichuris), capillariids, tapeworms (Taenia/Echinococcus and Diphyllobothrium genera) and flukes (Fasciola and Paramphistomum genera). Owing to excavation conditions and the sampling strategy, an original spatial analysis of the results was applied. This approach contributes to defining concentrations of parasite remains and proposes hypotheses concerning waste management or the functions of some archaeological areas and structures at the site.