The Significance of Intestinal Parasite Remains in Pollen Samples from <scp>M</scp>edieval Pits in the <scp>P</scp>iazza <scp>G</scp>aribaldi of <scp>P</scp>arma, <scp>E</scp>milia <scp>R</scp>omagna, <scp>N</scp>orthern <scp>I</scp>taly

Abstract

This paper presents the study of parasite remains recovered in pollen samples collected from archaeological layers. Laboratory treatment enabled us to obtain very high concentrations of both pollen and parasite eggs from the same samples. The case study of the site of P iazza G aribaldi in P arma, a town in the P o plain, is reported. The site was a sacred area in R oman times and a market square in M edieval times (10th–11th century A.D.). Pollen, seeds, and fruits from the latter phase were collected from four M edieval pits and one cesspit. After a palynological treatment including sieving, floating, and light acetolysis, abundant quantities of parasite eggs were extracted. Human and animal parasite eggs belonging to Trichuris , Ascaris , Taenia/Echinococcus , Capillaria , Dicrocoelium, and Diphyllobothrium were found. The analyses of animal and plant remains identified in the same samples suggested that the pit infillings consisted of waste, human and animal excrements, deteriorated plant food, and refuse of grapes. Therefore, parasite remains help the interpretation of archaeobotanical data in identifying human behaviors and site functions.