Study: Roman soldiers battled parasites at Hadrian’s Wall

Life as a Roman soldier stationed at Hadrian's Wall during the third century CE was likely fraught with challenges. In a recent study published in the journal Parasitology, researchers have expanded on the hardships described by poet W.H. Auden in his work "Roman Wall Blues," highlighting not just the dreary weather but also the chronic ailments caused by parasitic infections. The research sheds light on the health issues faced by these soldiers, such as persistent nausea and diarrhea, linked to intestinal parasites. Archaeologists have made significant strides in understanding ancient health by analyzing remnants of these parasites found in old feces. For instance, a 2022 study examined soil from a luxurious 7th-century BCE villa near Jerusalem, revealing eggs from four distinct parasitic species, marking the earliest evidence of roundworm and pinworm in ancient Israel. Additionally, a 5th-century CE Roman pot unearthed in Sicily provided insights into the health conditions of its users, demonstrating that it was likely a chamber pot due to the presence of parasitic eggs. Previous studies have contrasted the fecal parasites of hunter-gatherer societies with those of agricultural communities, illustrating how diet and social structures transformed with the advent of farming. The current paper focuses on sediment from sewer drains at Vindolanda, a Roman fort located south of Hadrian's Wall. The historical significance of Vindolanda dates back to antiquarian William Camden's documentation in 1586, and serious archaeological work has been ongoing since the 1930s. Vindolanda is renowned for the Vindolanda tablets, some of the oldest surviving handwritten documents in the UK, and for recent discoveries, including an artifact that some believe to be an ancient Roman dildo, while others contend it was a spinning tool for yarn.