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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
ISSN: 1678-8060 EISSN: 1678-8060
Vol. 98, No. s1, 2003, pp. 127-136
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Bioline Code: oc03019
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Vol. 98, No. s1, 2003, pp. 127-136
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Palaeoparasitology in Japan - Discovery of Toilet Features
Akira Matsui; Masaaki Kanehara & Masako Kanehara
Abstract
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.
Keywords
palaeoparasitology - sanitation - archaeology - Japan
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