Archaeologists have reached sensational conclusions while studying biological fluids.
Scientists from Sivas Cumhuriyet University in Turkey have discovered "physical evidence" that the Romans used human feces as medicine, reports material from CNN.
According to the lead author of the study, Cenk Atilla, the Romans described this in their works, but there was no archaeological evidence of the methods used.
Atilla noted that he and his team found some residue in ancient bottles known as unguentaria, stored in the Bergama Museum, they collected it and conducted an analysis.
The examination showed that the vessel, which was excavated in the city of Pergamon and dates back to the 2nd century, contained human feces, thyme, and olive oil.
"Since we are well acquainted with ancient textual sources, we immediately recognized this as a medicinal remedy used by the famous Roman physician Galen. <…> The discovery of the very medicine described by Galen himself was a great surprise and a source of immense excitement for us," Atilla stated.
He added that the Romans used human and animal excrement for "treating conditions ranging from inflammation and infections to reproductive disorders."
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