Mystery of the Bones: Syphilis, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the Arikara Indians

The Lewis and Clark journals report an outbreak of venereal disease among the men three weeks after their visit with the Arikaras. The disease was most likely a result of their sexual contact with the Arikara women and most likely syphilis, yet there is no evidence of syphilis on the bones of the early 19th century Arikara. We examine this mystery and explanations for this discrepancy.