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Parasites Detected in Roman-Era Chamber Pots from Bulgaria
Archaeology Magazine ^ | April 27, 2026 | editors / unattributed

Posted on 05/11/2026 7:49:37 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Researchers led by Elena Klenina and Andrzej B. Biernacki of Adam Mickiewicz University and their colleagues identified intestinal parasites in residues taken from four chamber pots recovered from two archaeological sites in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior, which is located in what is now Bulgaria, according to a La Brújula Verde report. Three of the pots in the study were found in a villa located near the Legio I Italica army camp, where high-ranking officials likely stayed when they visited the region. Cryptosporidium, a protozoan that can cause severe diarrhea, was one of the parasites detected in the second-century A.D. pots from the villa. These vessels also contained evidence of the intestinal tapeworm Taenia, and the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica, which causes dysentery. Inhabitants of the villa may have been infected with parasites originating in contaminated water from a reservoir on the Danube River. Sewer channels from the area are known to have discharged waste water into the Danube, and so the system may have been flooded and compromised during heavy rains. Consumption of undercooked pork or beef, and the use of human waste as fertilizer in fields around the army camp, may have also spread parasites, the researchers explained. The fourth pot, dated to the fourth century A.D., was uncovered in a pottery workshop at Marcianopolis. This vessel was likely used by the owner of the workshop and a group of potters. No traces of parasites were found in this pot, perhaps due to a better-quality water supply, or perhaps the consumption of poultry, which does not host the larval stages of worms that infect humans. Read the original scholarly article about this research in npj Heritage Science. For more about the Roman army in Bulgaria, go to "A Dutiful Roman Soldier."

(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: bulgaria; godsgravesglyphs; parasites; romanempire

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Remains of Novae.
Credit: Kleo73 / Wikimedia Commons
Credit: Kleo73 / Wikimedia Commons

1 posted on 05/11/2026 7:49:37 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

2 posted on 05/11/2026 7:50:12 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv
Parasites? Hanging out in chamber pots?

Who knew they had Democrats way back then. Science is amazing.

3 posted on 05/11/2026 7:52:56 PM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: SunkenCiv

Poop ping.


4 posted on 05/11/2026 8:42:16 PM PDT by Silentgypsy (In my defense, I was left unsupervised..)
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To: SunkenCiv

Sunken C. You belong to the High Order of Dedicated Historians.

If something is related to anthropology, they do not flinch, nor will they hesitate to look closely. It matters not what the topic may be. You have my respect.

There are times when I can stay on course in a similar way, but at a certain point, I’m looking for the closest
Exit Ramp.


5 posted on 05/11/2026 8:42:35 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: lee martell

I think this Roman parasite problem probably got wiped out.


6 posted on 05/11/2026 8:46:12 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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The Romans became infected with parasites by drinking contaminated water or eating raw meat.
Credit: Guillermo Carvajal / labrujulaverde.com
Credit: Guillermo Carvajal / labrujulaverde.com

7 posted on 05/11/2026 8:49:24 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Literally!


8 posted on 05/11/2026 9:05:40 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: lee martell; SunkenCiv
PooDetectiveBook

Because someone had to get to the bottom of the mystery.

9 posted on 05/11/2026 9:10:31 PM PDT by MikelTackNailer (Conspiracies are too often facts yet to be confirmed.)
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To: MikelTackNailer; lee martell

Step one, get your poop in a group...


10 posted on 05/11/2026 9:26:49 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: Silentgypsy

I have a book, uh, somewhere, about Coprology. I didn’t meet the author, but the copies at that bookstore had been autographed when the author was doing a book-signing tour.

Doesn’t look that much like ink...


11 posted on 05/11/2026 9:30:24 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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To: dayglored

Damn! Beat me to it!


12 posted on 05/11/2026 11:56:30 PM PDT by Rocco DiPippo (Either the Deep State destroys America or we destroy the Deep State. -Donald Trump)
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To: SunkenCiv

Researchers led by Elena Klenina and Andrzej B. Biernacki of Adam Mickiewicz University and their colleagues

It must suck to be crappy researchers...


13 posted on 05/12/2026 3:34:39 AM PDT by Adder (End fascism...defeat all Democrats.)
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To: SunkenCiv

A reliable source once told me to avoid the Bulgarian Ćevapi and maybe this is why.


14 posted on 05/12/2026 3:40:43 AM PDT by equaviator (Nobody's perfect. That's why they put pencils on erasers!)
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To: dayglored

You beat me to it.


15 posted on 05/12/2026 5:34:09 AM PDT by redfreedom (The Forth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: SunkenCiv

The closest I came to “being involved” in such, was visiting Pompei while stationed in Italy, and climbing the pyramid in Chichen Itza when on a vacation to Mexico. But you do help keep history alive and well here.


16 posted on 05/12/2026 5:45:59 AM PDT by trebb (So many fools - so little time...)
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To: trebb

😁


17 posted on 05/12/2026 6:24:29 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (TDS -- it's not just for DNC shills anymore -- oh, wait, yeah it is.)
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