PHYSICAL evidence uncovered in Turkey has confirmed that the Romans used human faeces as part of medical treatments, researchers said.
The finding supports descriptions found in ancient Roman texts and is detailed in a study published in the
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
Advertisement
The research was led by Cenker Atila, an archaeologist at Sivas Cumhuriyet University, who examined Roman glass bottles known as unguentaria at the Bergama Museum.
Residues were identified in seven vessels, although only one provided conclusive scientific results, and the artefact was excavated from the ancient city of Pergamon and dates to the second century.
After removing a clay seal and sampling brownish flakes inside the bottle, analysis showed the presence of human faeces, a high concentration of thyme and olive oil, Atila said.
Because we are well acquainted with ancient textual sources, we immediately recognised this as a medicinal preparation used by the famous Roman physician Galen, he said.
The study notes that ancient sources describe human and animal faeces as treatments for conditions including inflammation, infection and reproductive disorders, and Atila said the discovery proves a practice previously known only from written records and shows that ideas similar to modern faecal transfer were already present in antiquity.
