On COVID-19 and Matters Arising

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Five concepts-vulnerability, collapse, resilience, regeneration, and sustainability (VCRRS)-have been pervasive in archaeology and anthropology broadly during the past 20 years.

“Five of the pervasive concepts in archaeology (and anthropology broadly) during the past 20 years are vulnerability, collapse, resilience, regeneration, and sustainability (e.g., Chase and Scarborough 2014; Lane 2010; Logan et al. 2019; McAnany and Yoffee 2009; Redman 2005).”

• cites Chase and Scarborough 2014 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Lane 2010 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Logan et al. 2019 sourcePartly supported

  The opening section says archaeologists have evaluated the resilience of agricultural systems for many years, and Daryl Stump’s section discusses ecological sustainability. Our copy does not establish that all five named concepts have been pervasive across archaeology and anthropology for the past 20 years. (LLM, conf=0.78)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

COVID-19 has disrupted most archaeological plans for the summer and early fall of 2020, especially fieldwork travels.

“COVID-19 has disrupted most archaeological plans for the summer and early fall of 2020, especially fieldwork travels.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

As early as February 2020, many African countries were at the forefront of proactive actions to stem the spread of the pandemic.

“It is noteworthy that as early as February 2020, many African countries were at the forefront of proactive actions to stem the spread of the pandemic at the very time that many countries in the global north were in denial and foot-dragging about the disease.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The poor and working class have higher chances of being exposed to and dying from coronavirus because they have fewer opportunities for social distancing and must work outside the home.

“Not surprisingly, the poor and the working class have higher chances to be exposed to and die from coronavirus because they have fewer opportunities for social distancing and must also work outside the home.”

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Epidemics will always be part of the human journey.

“But one thing is clear: epidemics will always be part of the human journey.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Coronavirus, like all zoonotics in history, is a product of ecological perturbations and of the interdependence between humans and fellow organisms.

“Coronavirus, like all zoonotics in history, is a product of ecological perturbations, an outcome of the interdependence between humans and fellow organisms (Vidal 2020; Vijaykrishna et al. 2007).”

• cites Vidal 2020Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Vijaykrishna et al. 2007 sourceNot checked yet

  Checked before — its earlier verdict is held back until a new check runs.

Probably not a substantial claim. It may be too vague to check against evidence. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

The coronavirus pandemic is relevant to the VCRRS concepts that have animated archaeological inquiry about social and cultural formation.

“The coronavirus pandemic is relevant to the VCRRS concepts that have animated our scientific inquiry about social and cultural formation for several years.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

Past societies had to rely more on their political institutions and social systems than on medical know-how to break chains of pathogenic spread.

“As it has been with COVID-19, past societies had to rely more on their political institutions and social systems than their medical know-how in breaking the chains of pathogenic spread.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

For most African countries, reliance on single commodity export and importation of almost all essential infrastructure, including medical supplies, portends significant economic and social trouble.

“For most African countries, the reliance on single commodity export and importation of almost all essential infrastructure, including medical supplies, portend significant economic and social trouble.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

The race by Western scientists and drug companies to appropriate African knowledge of herbal plants for developing patented drugs has been ongoing for more than a century.

“The race by Western scientists and drug companies to appropriate African knowledge of herbal plants for developing patented drugs has been ongoing for more than a century (e.g., Osseo-Asare 2014).”

• cites Osseo-Asare 2014Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: African herbal medicine and healing knowledge have made significant contributions to advances in Western science, from treating malaria to eradicating smallpox.

It may state two separate claims as one.

Natural disasters often leave much more detectable signs in the archaeological record than epidemics, although epidemics can last much longer.

“For example, natural disasters such as tsunami, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes are similar to contagions in terms of their sudden and unpredictable occurrences. However, natural disasters often leave much more detectable signs than epidemics, although the latter can last much longer.”