Dietary Stress in Combat: Coprolite Analysis of a Korean War Marine Killed in Action

Abstract

We present our microbotanical and macrobotanical analysis of gut contents (coprolite) from the partial mummy of an American casualty from the Korean War known as Private First Class (PFC) Smith (PFC Smith’s name is anonymized. All other details are accurate.). Microscopic and macroscopic remains reveal a high fiber diet. Macrobotanical remains consisted of leaf and stem fiber and seeds from Potentilla (cinquefoil) and Sinapis alba Syn. Brassica alba (mustard). In general morphology, the mustard seeds from the coprolite are small compared to modern cultivated yellow mustard. Pollen analysis suggests a food source that included the buds of a Rosaceae family plant. Several Rosaceae genera produce pollen consistent with the recovered pollen including Potentilla. The coprolite matrix is composed of dark brown material that is inert. We suggest that the inert component is derived from a preservative/consolidant that was applied to the corpse at some time. This preservative/consolidant caused microscopic materials to adhere to each other which complicated pollen analysis. Given the analysis and subsequent findings, we conclude that the diet of this individual consisted of low-nutrition raw mustard seeds and Potentilla foliage, which is a famine food. This is indicative of a starvation or scavenging-based dietary regimen.