Results of the Archaeoparasitological Study of the Roman Settlement of Myrmekion

The article presents the findings from an archaeoparasitological study of soil samples collected from the drainage and pavement of the Roman settlement of Myrmekion, located in the modern city of Kerch (Eastern Crimea). The soil samples revealed eggs from four types of intestinal parasites that infect humans and domestic animals. The presence of geohelminth eggs, specifically Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris lumbricoides, indicates that the settlement’s sanitary conditions were suboptimal, posing risks for both parasitic diseases and certain infectious diseases. Additionally, the discovery of broad tapeworm eggs from Dibothriocephalus latus suggests that the sett­le­ment’s inhabitants regularly consumed marine and freshwater fish. The identification of Taenidae family cestode eggs in the samples points to the consumption of contaminated raw or insufficiently heat-treated meat from pigs and/or cattle, which formed part of the townspeople’s diet. The presence of beef tapeworm eggs in the samples highlights veterinary issues concerning cattle in Myrmekion. An important outcome of this study is the ability to reconstruct certain aspects critical to understanding the lives of ancient populations. Archaeoparasitological research is the only way to gain these insights.