Ancient vial in Turkey shows Romans used human excrement in medicine

Archaeologists in Turkey have discovered traces of human excrement in a 1,900-year-old glass ​vial used to hold perfumes or elixirs, which ‌they believe is the first physical evidence that the Romans used faeces medicinally.

Previously, the practice of applying excrement to the skin ​to fight infections and inflammation was known only ​from ancient Roman texts.

Cenker Atila, an archaeologist specialising ⁠in ancient perfumes at Turkey’s Sivas Republic University, was ​working with colleagues to identify the contents of hundreds of ​vials held in Bergama Museum, close to the ruins of the ancient city of Pergamon in Turkey’s western province of Izmir.

Pharmacologist ​Ilker Demirbolat ran a chemical analysis on the contents ​of one vial, finding human faeces and thyme oil.

The long-necked bottle or ‌unguentarium ⁠was recovered from looters, so experts can’t be sure where it was excavated.

However, Pergamon was home to a renowned hospital and to the ancient physician Galen, who ​documented the use ​of excrement ⁠in medicine. The bottle’s design also suggests it comes from the area.

“We found a ​medicine that has survived from ancient times to ​the ⁠present day,” Atila said, “we found excrement while expecting perfume.”

Demirbolat said Roman physicians described how the medicine could cause revulsion, ⁠and ​recommended mixing it with something that ​smelled nice, hence the presence of thyme oil.