Perspectives on anemia: Factors confounding understanding of past occurrence

OBJECTIVE: This paper reviews factors confounding the understanding of the past occurrence of anemia. Using the evidence gathered, a framework is presented of ways forward to enable greater confidence in diagnosing acquired anemia in paleopathology, facilitating insights into longer-term perspectives on this globally relevant condition. RESULTS: To date, porotic lesions have been central to paleopathological investigations of anemia. The fact …