[Syphilis in Europe in antiquity: the fetus of Costebelle and other new gifts from osteoarchaeology]. / La syphilis en Europe dans l'Antiquité: le foetus de Costebelle et les autres nouvelles données ostéoarcheologiques.

ABSTRACT

Tomb Nr 1 of the ancient cemetery of Costebelle, attributed to the 4th century AD, contained the skeleton of a pregnant female and that of her foetus in the pelvic cavity. This was aged seven months, was almost complete and showed an exceptional example of bony lesions suggestive of infection. Its etiology suggested the likelihood of early congenital syphilis. This case raises the question of the theory of the importation of venereal disease into Europe, about a 1000 years later, by the crews of Christopher Columbus. The foetus of Costebelle is not an isolated example other osteo-archaeological findings make a case for the existence of a treponeme (venereal or non venereal) in Europe before 1493.