Exploring the Potential of 2,000-Year-Old Shipwrecked Remedies
In a remarkable discovery, scientists are delving into the mysteries of ancient plant-based medicines found aboard a 2,000-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Tuscany, Italy. The Relitto del Pozzino, a ship that sank around 130 B.C., has yielded a treasure trove of artifacts, including a chest containing various medical items – and most intriguingly, a collection of circular tablets.
These ancient tablets, measuring less than an inch in diameter and about a third to a half inch thick, were found to be “very tightly compressed vegetation in a very solid pill,” according to Robert Fleischer, an evolutionary geneticist with the Smithsonian’s Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics.
The discovery of these well-preserved tablets has sparked a tantalizing question: Could the ingredients of these ancient remedies still hold the potential to help with modern illnesses?
“We know there’s a lot of traditional knowledge that is out there in cultures and has a lot of use and has been adopted in modern cultures — things like aspirin where the active ingredient is derived from willow bark,” Fleischer explained. “So I think there’s potential to find things in these pills — or combinations of things — that might actually be useful.”
The shipwreck, identified as the Relitto del Pozzino, provides a unique window into the medical practices of the ancient world. The cargo, which included a copper bleeding cup and 136 boxwood vials and tin containers, suggests that the ship was sailing from the eastern Mediterranean area, carrying a cargo of medical supplies and equipment.
The discovery of these well-preserved tablets offers a tantalizing opportunity for researchers to unravel the secrets of ancient plant-based medicines. By analyzing the composition and potential active ingredients of these tablets, scientists may be able to unlock the hidden potential of these ancient remedies and explore their relevance in modern healthcare.
As the investigation continues, the world eagerly awaits the insights that may emerge from this remarkable archaeological find. The journey to uncover the mysteries of these 2,000-year-old pills could lead to groundbreaking discoveries and a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of traditional medical knowledge that has been passed down through the ages.
The Findings
The pills found in the Relitto del Pozzino wreck from around 140 BC contained the following key ingredients:
- – Zinc compounds: The pills were made up of around 75% zinc carbonates like hydrozincite and smithsonite, similar to many modern eye medications. [1][2][3]
- – Plant and animal oils: The pills contained a mix of plant and animal-derived oils, likely including olive oil, which was commonly used in ancient Roman medicines and cosmetics. [1][2][3]
- – Beeswax: Beeswax was likely added to help bind the ingredients and prevent the pills from crumbling. [2][3]
- – Pine resin: Pine resin may have been added as an antiseptic and to prevent the oils from going rancid. [3]
- – Starch: Starch was a known ingredient in ancient Roman cosmetics and was also found in the pills. [3]
- – Pollen: Pollen grains from plants like olive, wheat, stinging nettle, and alder were present, suggesting the pills may have contained herbal ingredients. Around 60% of the pollen came from insect-pollinated plants like bees. [3]
The researchers believe these ancient pills were likely used as some kind of eye medicine or eyewash, as the Latin term for “eyewash” (collyrium) is derived from a Greek word meaning “small round loaves”, similar to the shape of these tablets. [1][2][3]
Citations
[1] https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23049-worlds-oldest-pills-treated-sore-eyes/
[2] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/whats-inside-a-2000-year-old-shipwreck-preserved-roman-pill-403649/
[3] https://www.livescience.com/26062-ancient-shipwreck-eye-medicine.html
[4] https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/scientists-learn-ingredients-2000-year-old-roman-pills-found-ancient-021485
[5] http://www.archeolog-home.com/pages/content/relitto-del-pozzino-italie-pills-found-in-ancient-tuscan-wreck-resemble-modern-medicine.html