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the third crusade

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Jun 25 Blog

Medieval Latrine Preserves Crusaders’ Intestinal Parasites

The 12th-century Crusaders left some historically valuable remains at a medieval castle in Paphos, Cyprus—specifically, in the castle’s toilets. Researchers from the University of Cambridge found human feces preserved in one of the latrines of a castle called Saranda Kolones, built by King Richard I of England in the western corner of the island during the Third Crusade in 1191 C.E. Saranda Kolones was in use for 30 years until it was destroyed by an earthquake, by which point Cyprus had been sold to Guy de Lusignan, the king of Jerusalem. The castle was never rebuilt and thus preserved the remnants found inside one of the ancient toilets.

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