Human Parasites Discovered in Medieval Cesspit Hint at Ancient Trade

Researchers have learned a bit more about the parasites that once infiltrated the intestines of our early ancestors. They've analyzed a latrine in Jerusalem that dates back over 500 years and have discovered that human parasites common in northern Europe and very rare in the Middle East at the time; this suggests that there was long-distance trade or pilgrimage routes to the area.

After analyzing the medieval cesspit, the researchers found evidence of six species of intestinal parasites. These included large quantities of roundworm and whipworm, which are both spread by fecal contamination of food. They're also thought to be endemic to the region dating back to human evolution out of Africa.

However, two of the parasites detected, Entamoeba dysentery and fish tapeworm, were common in northern Europe in the medieval period or either very rare or absent among the populations of the medieval Middle East.  This could be because trade was occurring at the time. In addition, the scientists uncovered pieces of Italian pottery in the same cesspit, which reinforce the idea that strong trading or religious links was prevalent between Europe and Jerusalem during the late 1400s.

"While we can only suggest reasons as to why people made these journeys between northern Europe and Jerusalem's Christian quarter, it does seem they brought with them unsuspecting hitch-hikers in their intestines," said Pier Mitchell, one of the researchers, in a news release. "The presence of the fish tapeworm-which can reach ten meters long in humans, and coils around inside the intestine-combined with the fragments of pottery made in Italy, most likely indicates that travelers from northern Europe used this latrine during a visit to Jerusalem."

The findings reveal a bit more about the connections occurring in medieval times. This, in turn, reveals a bit more about the people during this era.

The findings are published in the International Journal of Paleopathology.

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