Parasitological and Macrobotanical Analyses of a Late-18th Century Privy, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Five soil samples from a late eighteenth-century privy at the Wentworth site in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, were submitted to the Fiske Center for parasitological and macrobotanical analysis in order to illuminate the diet, health, and sanitation practices of the site's occupants. Over 2000 macrobotanical remains were recovered from these five samples, as well as 516 parasite ova which were interpreted as evidence of both roundworm (Ascaris sp.) and whipworm (Trichuris sp.) infestation. Macrobotanical analysis revealed consumption of locally available fruits, vegetables, and grains, as well as the use of herbal medicinal treatments such as poison hemlock (Conium), goosefoot (Chenopodium sp.) and St. John's Wort (Hypericum sp.).

从美国新罕布什尔州朴茨茅斯市温特沃斯遗址一处18世纪晚期的户外茅厕中采集的5份土壤样本，被提交至菲斯克中心（Fiske Center）开展寄生虫学与大植物遗存分析（parasitological and macrobotanical analysis），以阐明该遗址居民的饮食结构、健康状况与卫生实践。从这5份样本中共提取超过2000件大植物遗存，以及516枚寄生虫卵，经鉴定可作为蛔虫（Ascaris sp.）与鞭虫（Trichuris sp.）感染的实证。大植物遗存分析结果显示，该遗址居民的食物涵盖当地出产的水果、蔬菜与谷物，同时还使用了毒芹（Conium）、藜属植物（Chenopodium sp.）以及圣约翰草（Hypericum sp.）等草药开展治疗。