MYCOBACTERIA AND TUBERCULOSIS IN FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY AND BIOARCHAEOLOGY: PALEOPATHOLOGICAL, BIOMOLECULAR EVIDENCE AND THEORETICAL-METHODOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

This article presents a theoretical review on mycobacteria and tuberculosis (TB) in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology, emphasizing paleopathological and biomolecular evidence. The aim was to systematize knowledge about the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), skeletal diagnostic criteria, contributions of paleomicrobiology (aDNA and lipid biomarkers), and implications for forensic practice and the historical reconstruction of the disease. The methodology consisted of a narrative review of international and regional scientific literature, prioritizing studies in paleopathology, paleogenomics, and identified skeletal collections. Main findings indicate that classic lesions (Pott’s disease) and non-specific indicators (visceral rib periostitis, endocranial changes) should be interpreted together with molecular data; that the true prevalence of past infection was underestimated by the skeletal record; and that recent evolutionary scenarios point to an ancient human origin of the MTBC and complex zoonotic routes, including in pre-contact Americas. It is concluded that integrating morphological and biomolecular methods strengthens diagnosis and contextual interpretation of TB in archaeological and forensic human remains.