Abstrakt
In archaeology, a death caused by an epidemic infectious disease(s) may be deducted from an unusual archaeological state of finds, in particular a higher number of individuals buried within a short period of time in the grave or graves, more individuals buried in unexpected places and when it is impossible to determine the cause of their death, i.e. the absence of life-endangering pathologies. Generally, the evidence of such death in palaeopathology is rather rare.
For prehistoric Greece, no more than six cases of possible epidemies or infectious disease were documented (in Thebes, Corinth, Nichoria, Chania, Mycenae and Argos); unfortunately, the evidence of all is only indirect. The paper also presents cases of bacterial infectious diseases (TBC or brucellosis - in Achea Klauss, Pylona, Hagios Charalambos, Armeni and possibly also in Laganidia Kallithea) and parasitic diseases (in Kouphovouno, Kefala and Agia Irini).
The possible influence on the population's health status and demography is discussed in the final part of the paper.