Ethical Considerations for Paleopathology
Carlina de la Cova
Abstract
In recent years biological anthropologists have begun to wrestle with and decolonize the discipline in a manner that addresses the social violence and resonating harm done by earlier scholars to marginalized and other BIPOC groups as well as their descendants. Despite the positive nature of these intentions, biological anthropology and its associated subdisciplines, including paleopathology, continue to struggle with questionable ethical practices. The lack of consistent ethical guidelines across the broader discipline is also problematic. This chapter discusses the historically entrenched and current ethical issues tied to bioarchaeology and paleopathology. Most importantly, it provides guidance on how the discipline can move forward in an ethical manner that truly treats the deceased individuals we study, as well as their descendants, with respect and prevents further harm to descendant communities.