Romans’ Unique Medical Practices Uncovered
Researchers have recently uncovered intriguing findings about ancient Roman medical practices that reveal the use of unexpected ingredients—often not the cleanest ones.
This research centers on a ship excavated in Pergamon, a Greek city that fell under Roman control in 133 BC. Today, the ruins reside in Izmir province in western Türkiye.
Initially, the ship seemed typical, but it was later identified as a medical vessel. Investigations revealed “dark brownish flakes” in the residue, which were identified as feces.
In an April 2026 study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, researchers highlighted this finding as “direct chemical evidence of the medical use of feces in ancient Greco-Roman times.”
Cenker Atilla, an archaeology professor at Sivas Cumhuriyet University in Turkey and co-author of the study, noted that the use of fecal matter in Roman medicine isn’t particularly shocking.
An expert commented that this practice was already documented in ancient texts, even though, for years, there was debate about whether these treatments were genuinely employed.
Atilla discovered the ship while searching through archives at the Bergama Museum and noticed some glass containers held residue, prompting further investigation.
“This discovery represents the first archaeological evidence of a drug known to have been used in Roman times,” he revealed, expressing excitement at finding the very cure mentioned by the famed physician Galen.
After analyzing the contents with chemistry expert Ilker Demirbolat and medical historian Rana Babati Çelebi, they discovered human feces mixed with thyme and olive oil.
Atilla explained that thyme not only has antibacterial properties but also helps to mask the smell of human waste—a practical consideration back then, I suppose.
Interestingly, he mentioned that upon opening the container, there was no noticeable odor today, which might be somewhat surprising.
The residue was found in a container known as an unguentarium, typically used for perfume, but it appears it had been repurposed as a medicine bottle. Atilla emphasized that even seemingly ordinary archaeological finds deserve careful examination, as they may reveal important scientific materials.
