• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.393-397
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• 2021

Although research conducted in East Asia has uncovered parasite eggs from ancient toilets or cesspits, data accumulated to date needs to be supplemented by more archaeoparasitological studies. We examined a total of 21 soil samples from a toilet-like structure at the Hwajisan site, a Baekje-period royal villa, in present-day Korea. At least 4 species of helminth eggs, i.e., Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Clonorchis sinensis, and Trichuris sp. (or Trichuris vulpis) were detected in 3 sediment samples of the structure that was likely a toilet used by Baekje nobles. The eggs of T. trichiura were found in all 3 samples (no. 1, 4, and 5); and A. lumbricoides eggs were detected in 2 samples (no. 4 and 5). C. sinensis and T. vulpis-like eggs were found in no. 5 sample. From the findings of this study, we can suppose that the soil-transmitted helminths were prevalent in ancient Korean people, including the nobles of Baekje Kingdom during the 5th to 7th century.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.198-201
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• 2023

In the past decade, experts have conducted parasitological research on archaeological specimens in Korea to collect historical parasite infection data. In these studies, parasitologists successfully described the infection pattern of each parasite species in history. However, in the first half of the 20th century, archaeoparasitological reports have been scant. In 2021, we conducted a parasitological examination of a toilet-like structure that emerged in the early 20th century. This structure was built by stacking 2 wooden barrels; and in the study samples, we found ancient Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides (unfertilized), and Taenia spp. eggs and therefore proposed a higher possibility that the barrels could have been used as a toilet at the time. To understand how the antihelminthic campaign since the 1960s helped reduce parasite infection rates in Korea, more research should focus on early-20th-century toilet ruins.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.37
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• pp.309-326
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• 2004

There are some methods such as fatty acid analysis and microscope analysis of parasite egg and pollen and genetic analysis of ancient bacteria from ancient soil. The fatty acid analysis can examine whether some materials is human feces or animals. This is important thing to reconstruct ancient toilet culture pattern. The methods using TLC and GC-MS as organic chemistry is able to confirm ancient diet life style and nutritive conditions. The microscope analysis of ancient soil is able to confirm ancient parasite egg and pollen. It is possible to analogize ancient human diseases from this analysis. Also, genetic analysis is able to confirm genetic diversity and variation pattern of ancient organisms in archeological soil. Most of all, it is convinced of carrying through genetic preservation of exterminated ancient organisms. If archeological soils should be analysed through the natural scientific methods such as organic chemistry, soil science, microbiology, molecular biology, and genetics, this is helpful for us to understand and interpretation past historic event. And it is expected to perform an major role for understanding origin of ancient human and life style.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.25
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• pp.31-45
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• 2004

The archeological remains usually exist in some excavated ancient soils. The ancients oils are buried in underground with the environmental, biological and social facts for circumstantial evidence at past times. Consequently, it is very important thing to carry out scientific analysis of the ancient soils side by side with archeological study. In this study, we accumulated some basic data for scientific analysis of 5 kinds of ancient soils excavated at Wanggung-ri, Iksan city. So we obtained some characterizations of organic chemical source, ancient parasite egg, and some seeds in the soils. The organic sources showed the content of high organic material as 7~22%, and strong acidic condition as pH 2~6. It is indicated that Wanggung-ri soils have included so many organic materials from the degradation of biological remains. Most of all, we searched a lot of eggs of parasite Trichuris trichiura and so it is possible that this area had been a ancient toilet at that times. The more scientific analysis of the soils will be showed us about the utility of the area, ancient dietary life style, ancient environment and ancient human diseases.