The paper presents the results of an archaeoparasitological analysis of the soil samples from a number of the burials dated to the end of the 4^th — first half of the 3^rd c. B.C. of the ancient burial ground of Volna 1 situated in the territory of the “Asiatic part” of the Bosporan Kingdom (present-day Temryuk District, Krasnodar Krai). As the result of the investigation, the parasitogenic spectrum of the studied population group has been determined. The eggs of three types of helminths were found. The presence of the eggs of human whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) in the soil samples from the burials suggest relatively poor sanitary and hygienic condition of the population and undeveloped hygienic habits of the studied population group. Analysis of the archaeoparasitological data in the historical context and utilization of the archaeopathological material from the archaeological sites of the chronologically close period from the territory of Europe and Asia Minor permitted identification of the range of possible causes of such a situation. The undeveloped hygienic habits are also manifested by finding of of lancet fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) eggs in the soil samples. Besides, the presence in the soil samples of the eggs of this parasite is indicative, from the point of view of archaeoparasitology, of the type of the economy, its methods and, partly, of the dietary specifics. Interesting is the fact of finding of the broad tapeworm (Diphyllobothrium latum) eggs in one of the samples. Given the life cycle of the broad tapeworm and mode of infestation, it is possible to determine unambiguously that the tapeworm infestation might have happened during the consumption of raw underboiled/underroast or dried fish from the freshwater lakes and rivers from the territory of the south of Russia (River Kuban, River Don etc.). Having considered the obtained data in the historical-archaeological context, it is possible to hypothesize on the directions of travels of the infested individual. Characteristics of the archaeoparasitological spectrum indicate possible use of anthelminthic agents, or consumption of food with vermicidal effect with respect to the round worms. An important result of the study is demonstration of capabilities of the archaeoparasitology as a source of bioarchaeological information on the population of Northern Black Sea coast.

Keywords: Northern Black Sea region, archeoparasitology, palynology, paleopathology, intestinal parasites, bioarchaeological reconstructions.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Accepted: 16.09.2020

Article is published: 23.12.2021

Slepchenko S.М., Tyumen Scientific Centre of Siberian Branch RAS, Malygina st., 86, Tyumen, 625026, Russian Federation, E-mail: s_slepchenko@list.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9365-3849

Sudarev N.I., Institute of Archeology RAS, Krzhizhanovsky st., 14, bldg. 2, Moscow, 117218, Russian Federation, E-mail: sudarev@list.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8827-9656

Tsokur I.V., LLC “Irida”, Tamanskaya st., 8, Volna village, Temryuk District, Krasnodar Krai, 353556, Russian Federation, E-mail: naslediekk@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7397-5226

Abramova A.N., Krasnodar's Felitsyn State Historical and Archaeological Reserve, Krasnodar, Gymnazicheskaya st., 67, Krasnodar, 350910, Russian Federation, E-mail: abramovasacha0902@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6390-0845