Ancient Romans used feces as medicine, researchers confirm

Here we are collectively as a species patting ourselves on the back for coming up with a solution to a variety of ailments. A solution that is both brilliant and ridiculously stupid: poop transplants. Well, there is now archaeological evidence that the ancient Romans used feces as medicine thousands of years ago.

Publish their results in Journal of Archaeological Science: Reportsresearchers in Türkiye reported the discovery of a Roman glass vessel known as an unguentarium. They found chemical traces of human feces inside them, which would probably have been quite a surprise for a lady showing up for a hot date.

The bottle dates back to the second century AD. and was placed at the Bergama Archaeological Museum. Lining its interior walls was a dark residue that analysis revealed contained biomarkers consistent with human feces. The sample also contained aromatic compounds from time, probably added to offset the distinctly musty smell.

All of this is to say that researchers found the first direct chemical evidence of human feces being stored in such containers, suggesting that historical accounts suggesting excrement was used medicinally in the ancient world were likely correct.

The study’s authors say the discovery is just one more piece of evidence to add to the pile demonstrating how the boundaries between cosmetics, medicine, hygiene and ritual practices in Roman society were blurred and often overlapped considerably. So much so that the dirty things that came out of you were then put directly back into you and they called it medicine.

Then the infection is probably spread by rubbing faeces on an infected area. Today, thanks to fecal microbiota transplantation, or FMT, a still somewhat experimental medical procedure, stool from a healthy donor is used to restore gut bacteria.

Teams are currently investigating whether FMT therapies can potentially treat irritable bowel syndrome, one of the more annoying contemporary disorders that affects 10 to 15 percent of the population in the United States.