Intestinal parasitic eggs are found in a 2,700-year-old toilet that was by Jerusalem elites who likely had poor hygiene and sanitary conditions
- An ancient toilet that was used by Jerusalem elites 2,700 years shows the owners were plagued with parasitic worm eggs
- Experts sampled sediment under the toilet and found the eggs had been living off the cesspit conditions
- The parasites form when a person has poor hygiene or sanitary conditions
An ancient toilet made of limestone that was used by Jerusalem elites 2,700 years ago reveals the wealthy family were riddled with parasites.
Researchers led by Tel Aviv University found intestinal worm eggs in sediment samples from underneath the stone toilet that were able to survive on the cesspit conditions.
Intestinal worms are parasites that cause symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and itching, and are contracted when a person has poor hygiene or sanitary conditions.
The limestone commode features a carved hole in the center and appears to have been smoothed for comfortable seating and was constructed in a time when private bathrooms were only available to the wealthy.
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An ancient toilet made of limestone that was used by Jerusalem elites 2,700 years ago reveals the wealthy family were riddled with parasites.
The toilet was first discovered in October by the Israeli Antiquities Authority in the ruins of a mansion that once stood at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in Jerusalem.
Dr Dafna Langgut, Tel Aviv University’s director of the Laboratory of Archaeobotany and Ancient Environments at the Institute of Archaeology, then led research to see if the owners left anything behind that would provide more information about them and their lifestyle.
Langgut collected sediment samples from underneath the stone toilet, where the cesspit was located and, in her laboratory, she chemically extracted the parasite eggs, scrutinized them under a light microscope and identified them.
‘The findings of this study are among the earliest observed in Israel to date,’ said Langgut in a statement.
Researchers led by Tel Aviv University found intestinal worm eggs in sediment samples from underneath the stone toilet that were able to survive on the cesspit conditions
The toilet was first discovered in October by the Israeli Antiquities Authority in the ruins of a mansion that once stood at the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in Jerusalem
‘These are durable eggs, and under the special conditions provided by the cesspit, they survived for nearly 2,700 years.
‘Some of them are especially dangerous for children and can lead to malnutrition, developmental delays, nervous system damage, and, in extreme cases, even death.’
She has a few suggestions to how the ancient people contracted the parasites.
It could have happened through contaminated food and water, not washing their hands or using use of human feces to fertilize field crops.
There is also the idea that this family consumed improperly cooked beef or pork on a regular basis.
The toilet once stood in a private bathroom outside, similar to the structure of an outhouse. Adjacent to the mansion was a spectacular garden with a breathtaking view of the City of David and the Temple Mount
When the toilet was first discovered, archaeologist also found animal bones and pottery inside the septic tank.
Eli Eskosido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement: ‘It is fascinating to see how something obvious to us today, such as toilets, was a luxury item during the reign of the kings of Judah. Jerusalem never ceases to amaze.’
The toilet once stood in a private bathroom outside, similar to the structure of an outhouse.
Adjacent to the mansion was a spectacular garden with a breathtaking view of the City of David and the Temple Mount. It was here, along with the remains of fruit and ornamental trees, that the cesspit sampled by Langgut was found.
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