Lloyds Bank Coprolite Yields Viking Parasites
Human waste dating back roughly 1,100 years in York, England, contains hundreds of parasitic worm eggs from the Viking era, according to reports. Archaeologists identified the specimens inside the Lloyds Bank Coprolite, a roughly 20-centimeter-long and 5-centimeter-wide fossilized stool sample that ranks among the largest complete examples ever recovered. Who would have thought that human feces aged around 1,100 years could store important information about past life? The fossilized stool measures almost similar in size to a mineral water bottle.
Construction workers unearthed the object in 1972 beneath the site of a new Lloyds Bank office in York. The sample dates to the ninth century and preserves biological materials that allow researchers to examine ancient diets and sanitation standards.
Microscopic Parasites in Ninth-Century York
Analysis conducted by archaeological specialist Andrew K. G. Jones during the 1970s and 1980s revealed two distinct species of intestinal worms. According to Detik iNET, the examination identified Trichuris trichiura, commonly known as whipworm, and Ascaris lumbricoides, or roundworm. Both parasites inhabit the human digestive tract and can potentially trigger abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and other digestive disorders in specific cases.
The presence of these microscopic eggs indicates that the individual who produced the coprolite suffered from a parasitic infection during life. While researchers cannot determine the exact severity of the infection or the specific symptoms experienced, the findings point to widespread sanitation challenges. Parasitic worms spread easily when food, water, or unwashed hands come into contact with fecal matter containing infectious eggs. Evidence of parasites in other studies of Viking-age remains shows that intestinal worm infections affected more than one person, and studying ancient parasites also helps scientists understand how these organisms evolved over thousands of years.
Dietary Clues and Preservation Challenges
Alongside the parasite eggs, microscopic analysis of the Lloyds Bank Coprolite uncovered fragments of grain bran and pollen grains. These botanical remains shed light on the daily diet of residents living in Viking-age York, confirming the consumption of coarse cereals while helping archaeologists understand the diet, diseases, and environmental conditions of ancient societies.
Due to its fragile structural integrity, handling and physical testing of the coprolite are now strictly restricted following an incident in 2003 when the rare fossil dropped during a visit and fractured into several pieces, prompting conservation staff to reassemble the fragments using a special adhesive.
Current Exhibition and Public Access
The stabilized specimen is currently preserved and displayed for visitors at the JORVIK Viking Centre in York, England.
Dimensions and parasitic contents of the fossil
How large is the Lloyds Bank Coprolite?
The fossil measures approximately 20 centimeters in length and 5 centimeters in width, making it one of the largest intact specimens of ancient human feces ever documented.
Where is the artifact currently housed?
The specimen is kept on public display at the JORVIK Viking Centre in York, England, following its conservation repair after a 2003 fracture.
What specific parasites were found in the sample?
Analyses directed by Andrew K. G. Jones identified hundreds of eggs belonging to whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides).
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