Analysis of Roman chamber pots to understand the health of the lower Danube inhabitants

The reconstruction of everyday life in antiquity, particularly in terms of nutrition and health, remains a significant challenge for researchers. This study examines deposits of urine and feces found in chamber pots dated to the 2nd to 4th centuries CE, excavated at Novae and Marcianopolis. An interdisciplinary approach integrates historical and archaeological evidence with paleoparasitology to identify infectious diseases and better understand everyday conditions in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior. In addition to established molecular techniques for parasite detection, the immunoassay methods were applied for the first time in this provincial context, producing significant results. Microscopic analysis of the mineralized encrustations revealed the presence of Taenia sp. egg, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) identified Cryptosporidium sp. in most samples – representing the earliest reliable Mediterranean evidence for this parasite – as well as Entamoeba histolytica. The findings provide new insights into sanitation, disease burden, and population health in Roman Moesia Inferior.