Ancient toilets reveal worms and diarrhea in Jerusalem
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Archaeologists studying ancient toilets in Jerusalem, Israel, discovered evidence of intestinal parasites and poor sanitation in the ancient city.
Researchers examined waste from two toilets, one near the City of David and another in Armon HaNatziv, dating to the seventh and sixth centuries BCE. They identified eggs from whipworm, tapeworm, roundworm, and pinworm using microscopic examination of soil samples. Recent laboratory analysis revealed the presence of Giardia duodenalis, a parasite causing diarrhea, in both toilets.
This finding suggests that inadequate sanitation, such as fecal contamination of food and water or flies spreading waste, contributed to the spread of disease. Biblical texts also indicate awareness of gastrointestinal illnesses and efforts to prevent them. For example, Deuteronomy instructs soldiers to bury waste, and accounts describe King Jehoram dying from an intestinal ailment and King Hezekiah receiving a fig-based treatment for a boil.
While a comprehensive record of ancient medical practices remains undiscovered, these sources demonstrate that people in ancient Judah possessed some medical knowledge and sought remedies for their illnesses. The upcoming Fall 2026 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review will publish a full report on these findings.
