Unearthing Ancient Toilets Exposes Fatal Disease in Jerusalem

Analysis of poop samples from 2,500-year-old latrines in Jerusalem revealed traces of dysentery-causing parasites, including the earliest known evidence of Giardia duodenalis. The toilets belonged to elite households in the city during the Iron Age, and the findings suggest that dysentery was likely a big problem in early cities of the ancient Near East due to over-crowding, heat, flies, and limited water available in the summer. The discovery sheds light on the health of people in ancient times and the challenges they faced in preventing the spread of disease.