Roman Toilets Didn't Help With Hygiene
Craig Taylor Roman Latrines In Lybia The Romans have done a lot for modern civilization. Roads, a calendar, an alphabet, and so much more. But it turns out some of the so-called improvements they gave us weren't so great after all. In a study published today in the journal Parasitology, researchers found that the Roman fondness for baths, toilets, and indoor plumbing didn't keep them any cleaner than the barbarians at their gates. Researchers looked at the archeological record, examining coprolites (fossilized poop), combs, and other hygiene artifacts for traces of parasites, evidence of dysentery, and lice. They found that after the Romans conquered entered an area, bringing along their baths and toilets, the number of parasites didn't fall. Instead, they grew. "This latest research on the prevalence of ancient parasites suggests that Roman toilets,...