What is significant about the ancient fecal remedy discovery?

This discovery provides the first direct archaeological and chemical evidence of fecal matter used in Greco-Roman medicine, confirming remedies described by Galen.

How was the fecal matter used in Roman medicine?

The fecal matter was mixed with thyme and olive oil, with thyme used to mask the smell and provide antibacterial benefits, likely for topical application.

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Ancient Roman Medicine: Feces Was Key Ingredient

Q: What did archaeologists find in the ancient Roman vessel?

Archaeologists found residue containing human feces mixed with thyme and olive oil in an ancient vessel from Pergamon.

11 Feb

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Summary

Romans used fecal matter mixed with thyme and olive oil as medicine.
This discovery provides direct chemical evidence of Greco-Roman fecal medicine.
The find puts to rest doubts about the practical use of ancient fecal remedies.

Ancient Roman Medicine: Feces Was Key Ingredient

Archaeologists have unearthed direct chemical evidence confirming the use of fecal matter in ancient Roman medical treatments. The discovery stems from a vessel found in Pergamon, an ancient Greek city now in Turkey, which researchers identified as containing human feces mixed with thyme and olive oil.

This finding, published in the Journal of Archaeological Sciences in April 2026, offers the first archaeological proof of a medicinal practice known from ancient texts. The mixture, intended for topical application, utilized thyme to mask the odor and leverage its antibacterial properties.

The residue was discovered in a vessel that appeared to be an unguentarium, typically used for perfumes, but repurposed as a medicine bottle. The research, conducted by Cenker Atila and colleagues, confirms a remedy described by the renowned physician Galen, ending debates about the actual practice of fecal-based medicine in antiquity.