By Akira Matsui, Masaaki Kanehara, Masako Kanehara.
The development of palaeoparasitology in Japan has occurred in recent
decades. Despite the fact that archaeology in Japan has been slow to
develop techniques for excavating ancient toilets, important
information about the development of sanitation has been derived from
the analysis of a few sites. This shows that the earliest people had
very simple methods of sanitation. As populations increased,
sanitation became more complex. Ditches surrounding early towns were
used for excrement disposal. Eventually distinct toilets were
developed followed by cesspit type toilets and flushing toilets. The
parasites recovered from these toilets include many species that
infect humans today. These parasite spectra reflect local use of
aquatic, marine, and land animals. Fecal borne disease was an
increasing problem as represented by whipworm and ascarid roundworm
eggs. Interestingly, ascarid roundworms were absent in the earliest
cultures and only became common with rice agriculture. Finds of
pollen and seeds in toilet sediments reveal the use of medicinal
plants to control the emerging problem of parasites.
<http://www.scielo.br/pdf/mioc/v98s1/v98s1a19.pdf>Link (PDF)
--
Posted By johannes to
<http://www.monochrom.at/english/2008/06/palaeoparasitology-in-japan-discovery.htm>monochrom
at 6/07/2008 10:51:00 AM
