Hygiene patterns of the rich of Jerusalem in the days of the First Temple

“The findings of this study are among the earliest observed so far in the Israeli space,” says Dr. Langot. -2700 years. Intestinal worms are parasites that cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and itching. Some are especially dangerous for children and can cause them to malnourish, developmentally delay, damage the nervous system and in extreme cases even death. “

Dr. Langot believes that the intestinal disease at that time was due to poor sanitation conditions, Which caused fecal contamination in food and drinking water, or a lack of awareness of hygiene such as failure to wash hands. Other options for infection were using human feces to fertilize field crops and eating improperly cooked beef or pork. In the absence of a cure, recovery from intestinal worms was difficult to impossible, and those who became infected could suffer from the parasites all their lives. Therefore, it is quite possible that the findings of the study indicate a disturbing and long-standing infectious disease (similar to lice and the pinworm in today’s kindergartens), which has affected the entire population. According to Dr. Langout, the same parasites still exist today, but in the modern Western world we have effective diagnostic options and remedies, so this is not an epidemic.

A fertile pad for the study of archaeo-parasitology

Yaakov Bilig, director of the excavation on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, explains that the royal estate Revealed dates to the middle of the 7th century BC (end of the Iron Age). According to him, the site found magnificent architectural items made of stone, decorated to a very high artistic level, such as decorated stone capitals (in the Proto-Aeolian style), in quantity and quality that had not yet been observed in the Israeli space during this period. Adjacent to the royal mansion was a magnificent garden that faced the sublime view of the City of David and the Temple Mount. Remains of fruit and ornamental trees were found in the garden, and a square limestone installation was discovered in it, with a hole in the center, which was identified as a toilet.

In its laboratory, called Archaeo-Parasitology. It refers to the identification of microscopic archaeological remains of intestinal worm eggs, which make it possible to learn about the history of diseases and epidemics. Dr. Langot and Bilig are not surprised by the unveiling of a luxury mansion garden: “The toilet facilities were very rare at the time and were a status symbol – a luxury facility that only the rich and high-ranking could afford, as has already been said by sages: ‘ Tannu Rabbanan: Which one is rich? Antiquities Authority: “The studies of the Antiquities Authority and our partners, manage to touch on the smallest details of everyday life in antiquity. Thanks to advanced equipment and fruitful collaboration with the corresponding research institutions, it is possible to produce fascinating information from materials that we previously did not have the tools to handle scientifically. Today, archaeological research is reaching impressive heights and a better understanding of past lifestyles, which seems to be only evolving. “

” Such studies help us document the history of diseases and epidemics in our area and enable us A window into the lives of people in ancient times, “concludes Dr. Langot. These days she is conducting further tests on the same sediments that have accumulated in the septic tank, in order to learn about the diet and herbs that were used in Jerusalem at the end of the Iron Age.