I would be more worried about anthrax than smallpox. Anthrax spends part of
its lifecycle as spores which survive in soil for some time.  APHA
publications indicate that for Smallpox, contact with infected persons or
"material recently contaminated," is the mode of transmission. While
definitions of "recently" may vary, I think archaeological deposits are
probably not a great concern.

Benenson, Abram S., ed.
1980 Control of Communicable Diseases in Man.  13th ed. American Public
Health Association, Washington, DC.

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Marsha King
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 3:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: coffin window glass


So I would have thought.  However, I was told that in some cases it
could encyst (I believe that was the word they used) in bones and remain
viable.  I didn't argue with the CDC doctors about it.  Perhaps
rechecking with other doctors (asking for second/third opinions) would
get different results?  I don't know.  At the time, small pox was not
one of the reported causes of deaths for people buried in that
particular cemetery.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Marsha K. King, Archeologist II
Environmental Services Section
Bureau of Design
Kansas Department of Transportation
Eisenhower State Office Building
700 SW Harrison
Topeka, KS   66603-3754
phone - 785-296-8414
fax -       785-296-8399
email -   [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Davis, Daniel (KYTC)
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 2:09 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: coffin window glass

Small pox would require living tissue to remain viable.

-----Original Message-----
From: Marsha King [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 2:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: coffin window glass


According to warnings I received from the CDC when I checked with them
many years ago, you should also beware of at least two diseases that can
(at least in some instances) remain for many years in bones after all
flesh is long gone - small pox and anthrax (if I am remembering
correctly what I was told a number of years ago).

Consequently, I always try to check the cause of death, where possible.
In that particular case (Deer Island, Boston Harbor, MA) the cemetery
had served for a variety of city institutions from the early 1800s until
the mid 1900s when the last prisoners from the then current Suffolk
County House of Corrections (prison) were last interred.  Fairly
complete records were kept listing causes of death for these
individuals.  Obviously, that is often not the case.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
Marsha K. King, Archeologist II
Environmental Services Section
Bureau of Design
Kansas Department of Transportation
Eisenhower State Office Building
700 SW Harrison
Topeka, KS   66603-3754
phone - 785-296-8414
fax -       785-296-8399
email -   [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ron
May
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 12:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: coffin window glass

Lauren,

Did you check for chemicals after exposing the burials or have a haz mat
plan
before entering the field? I say this because most people digging in
cemeteries do not think out the consequences until after the fact. I
excavated a 18th
and early 19th century cemetery and no one ever told us to do anything
special. That was in 1968 and I am still alive, so I assume there were
no chemicals.

Ron