Researchers in Turkey have unearthed archaeological evidence that the Romans used human feces in medical treatments, reports BritPanorama.
This revelation marks the first physical evidence backing practices described in ancient Roman texts, according to a study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
Lead study author Cenker Atila, an archaeologist at Turkey’s Sivas Cumhuriyet University, identified residues in some Roman glass bottles known as unguentaria at the Bergama Museum during research for a 2022 publication, “Glass Objects from Bergama Museum.”
Atila discovered residues in seven different vessels but obtained a conclusive result from one artifact dating back to the second century, excavated in the ancient city of Pergamon.
After removing the clay cap and collecting a sample of brownish flakes from within the bottle, Atila found it contained “human feces, a high concentration of thyme and olive oil.” He recognized this as a medicinal preparation used by the renowned Roman physician Galen.
Born into a wealthy Greek family in Pergamon, Galen was an anatomical pioneer who served three Roman emperors and whose medical writings influenced practice for around 1,500 years. Atila expressed, “Finding the very remedy described by Galen himself was both a great surprise and a source of immense excitement for us.”
Fecal transfer is an ancient treatment
According to ancient texts, both human and animal feces were utilized as treatments for various conditions including inflammation, infection, and reproductive disorders, the study reveals.
The researchers noted that although such topics were often approached with euphemism, these substances were not always deemed repulsive. They maintained a complex status in ancient medicine, regarded as potent yet loaded with symbolic meaning.
Atila remarked that the study results imply a medical practice “previously known only from ancient written sources has now been physically proven through an archaeological object.” He added that this finding indicates that ‘fecal transfer,’ now an important procedure in modern medicine, was also recognized in antiquity.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved two fecal transfer products for the prevention of recurrent bacterial infection of the colon in adults. Atila noted that while typically used to hold perfumes, this specific glass bottle was evidently repurposed as a medicine container.
Thyme was included for its antibacterial properties and to mask the odor of the feces, he explained.
“When we opened the bottle, we did not encounter any noticeable smell,” Atila stated.
Nicholas Purcell, a professor emeritus of ancient history at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study, remarked that the findings are backed by solid scientific evidence. He acknowledged the importance of connecting this historical practice with tangible archaeological findings, suggesting continued interest in the context of the bottle’s discovery, hinting at the possibility that it may have originated from a tomb.
Purcell emphasized, “The default has been to think little glass vessels in tombs held lovely luxuries, especially perfumes and cosmetics, but the main contribution of this neat piece of research could be to widen that enquiry.”
The study was published on January 19, indicating a growing interest in the interplay between ancient texts and archaeological discoveries.
