Identifying the portable toilets of the ancient Roman world

Phys dot org ^ | February 10, 2022 | University of Cambridge

[SunkenCiv]

New research published today in the Journal of Archeaological Science Reports reveals how archeologists can determine when a pot was used by Romans as a portable toilet, known as a chamber pot.

"Conical pots of this type have been recognized quite widely in the Roman Empire and in the absence of other evidence they have often been called storage jars. The discovery of many in or near public latrines had led to a suggestion that they might have been used as chamber pots, but until now proof has been lacking," says Roger Wilson, a professor in UBC's department of classical, Near Eastern and religious studies who directs the Gerace archeological project in Sicily where the pot was found.

Archeologists at the University of Cambridge analyzed crusty material formed on the inside surface of a ceramic pot dating to the fifth century from a Roman villa site in Sicily. Using microscopy to identify intestinal parasites, the team from the Ancient Parasites Laboratory identified the eggs of whipworm, confirming that the vessel had once contained human feces.

[Texan5]

I doubt it-it was the Greeks who made a custom of writing the names of disliked rulers and politicians, etc on chamber pots-called “ostraka” or the broken pieces of them-that is how we got the original word “ostracized”-which meant only fit to be pissed on-still a major insult...

[Texan5]

That really is a fancy looking public latrine-In the past, I’ve been in line with 20 other women to use worse ones at concerts-and we carried our own TP in our purses-the Romans had to use little sponges stuck on sticks, then rinsed in the water flowing underneath the bench-nasty...

[SunkenCiv]

and while they are mostly no longer in use, a lot of Rome's water and sewer network has survived.

• Taking Out the Trash in Ancient Jerusalem [Roman era] [02/12/2018]
• Roman rubbish dump reveals secrets of ancient trading networks [06/07/2015]
• An ancient wreck tells the tale of Romans in France [03/20/2014]
• Trash Talk [ Monte Testaccio, imperial Roman landfill ] [05/05/2012]

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• Reconstructing the history of mankind with the help of fecal sterols -- first test on the Maori [10/15/2018]
• Fecal records show Maya population fell due to climate change that caused droughts and flooding [07/01/2021]
• A Triassic Insect Was Found Perfectly Preserved in Dinosaur Poop For The First Time [07/02/2021]

[SunkenCiv]

Fauci found Rove’s Time Machine.

[Albion Wilde]

"C'mon, boys, let's go take a crap!"

[Mean Daddy]

I worked as a delivery driver for an old packing house & they had a community bathroom with two dozen open toilets. I could never bring myself to use it.