Ancient Parasites Reveal the Unsanitary Conditions of Celtic Life

Scientists have uncovered some ancient parasite eggs from the Celtic period in Switzerland. The new findings reveal a bit more about the health of the people that lived during the Iron Age.

In this case, the researchers examined samples from the "Basel-Gasfabrik" Celtic settlement at the present day site of Novartis. This settlement was inhabited around 100 BC and is one of the most significant Celtic sites in Central Europe.

While examining samples, the researchers stumbled on the durable eggs of roundworms, whipworms and liver flukes within the backfill of 2,000-year-old storage and cellar pits. This, in particular, revealed a bit more insight into diseases triggered by parasites during this time period.

In fact, the researchers found that some individuals were host to several parasites at the same time. Not only that, but the scientists also discovered that it's likely that the settlement used human waste as fertilizer for vegetable gardens. It's also likely that the community suffered with poor sanitary conditions in which humans and animals lived side by side.

The findings reveal a bit more about how humans lived within this settlement. With the amount of parasites present, it's likely that the people lived within unsanitary and close conditions.

The findings are published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

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