(STUDY FINDS) – A 2,700-year-old stone toilet is revealing the not-so-luxurious lifestyles of the rich and powerful in ancient Jerusalem. Researchers from Tel Aviv University say they discovered the remains of intestinal parasite eggs in the garden bathroom of a lavish estate from the mid-seventh century B.C. This points to even the wealthy of this era dealing with intestinal diseases which likely stayed with them for life.
Study authors explain that intestinal parasites, resulting from poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions, quickly lead to illnesses that cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and even malnutrition. In children, parasites can also cause developmental delays.
At the Armon Hanatziv Promenade in Jerusalem, researchers discovered the remains of a private estate likely belonging to one of Jerusalem’s elite citizens during the Iron Age. In the garden, the team found the ancient bathroom, including the stone toilet and cesspit underneath. Here is where they unearthed four different kinds of intestinal parasites — roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms, and pinworms.
