Introduction

In 1970, a multidisciplinary study was initiated by the Peruvian government under my direction to evaluate health conditions in a population group which had lived in a relatively stable environment for some 5,000 years. So far, American and Peruvian archeologists, anthropologists, radiologists, anatomic, oral, neuro- and clinical pathologists, chemists, immunologists, an otologist, and students from many different disciplines have been involved in the study which has been supported largely by the National Geographic Society with many individual contributions