Archaeological Evidence of Parasites in Ancient Delos During the Hellenistic Period

Abstract

This research investigates evidence of ancient parasitic diseases by applying microscopic examination and paleogenetic testing to samples recovered from 59 archaeological contexts, including 51 latrines linked to the Hellenistic settlement of Delos in the Cyclades, Aegean Sea. Of the contexts studied, 35 contained gastrointestinal helminth eggs, such as those belonging to the Ascarididae and Trichocephalida groups, along with several Strongyle-type eggs and one trematode specimen. Further paleogenetic analysis verified the presence of human parasites, including Ascaris sp., Trichuris trichiura, and Enterobius vermicularis. This study represents one of the broadest investigations of ancient parasites within an urban archaeological setting, as it covers a substantial part of the settlement area. The results demonstrate that parasitic infections were widespread among the population and provide important information about hygiene, public health, and everyday living conditions in an ancient Mediterranean city