Earliest Record of the Spinose Ear Tick, Otobius Megnini (Dugès)(Ixodida: Argasidae), From the Paisley Caves Site (Oregon, USA), With Implications for Prehistoric Human Ectoparasitism
Sponsor
Support for the Paisley Caves Project was provided by NSF Grant #0924606; Danish National Research Foundation; the Centre for GeoGenetics; Natural History Museum of Denmark; University of Copenhagen, Denmark (Eske Willerslev, Director), the Bureau of Land Management and Bill Cannon, the Lakeview District archaeologist; UO Archaeological Field School; UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History; OSU Keystone Archaeological Research Fund; Bernice Peltier Huber Charitable Trust; University of Nevada – Reno Great Basin Paleoindian Research Unit; Association of Oregon Archaeologists; Don Dana; Arthur Hurley; Steve Kohntopp; Robert Engle; Origer Associates, Inc.; and other private contributors.
Published In
Journal of Archaeological Science
Document Type
Citation
Publication Date
4-1-2020
Abstract
The discovery of five individual specimens of the spinose ear tick, Otobius megnini (Dugès) in late Pleistocene through middle Holocene deposits of the Paisley Caves site highlights an interesting aspect of prehistoric life not ordinarily visible through the analysis of traditional archaeological artifacts. A review of the literature provides ample evidence to postulate how the tick remains got into the cave deposits, and also implies the possibility of host-switching behavior in this tick and explores the manner by which ancient people dealt with ectoparasites. Furthermore, these remains mark the first record of the species in both archaeological and paleontological contexts.
Rights
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Locate the Document
DOI
10.1016/j.jas.2020.105114
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/32879
Citation Details
Adams, Martin E., and Dennis L. Jenkins. "Earliest record of the spinose ear tick, Otobius megnini (Duges)(Ixodida: Argasidae), from the Paisley Caves site (Oregon, USA), with implications for prehistoric human ectoparasitism." Journal of Archaeological Science 116 (2020): 105114.