A DNA analysis conducted on soil samples found within a Turkish cave system has revealed evidence of an ancient charcoal medicine which scientists believe was used to treat digestive health issues 5,000 years ago, according to a new study published in PLoS ONE.
Scientists Reconstructed Microbial Communities
Using metagenomic sequencing analysis, researchers from the country’s Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (ZBEU) were able to reconstruct microbial communities over the last 5,000 years. The soil samples were originally found at the İnönü Cave during an excavation led by the university’s Associate Professor Dr. Hamza Ekmen since 2017.
The analysis of soil from four distinct layers revealed unparalleled information about how prehistoric people treated common maladies such as stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea by utilizing the region’s ample coal deposits. The curative methods are remarkably similar to modern therapies which use activated charcoal to absorb the body’s toxins, which indicates that ancient people had a far more advanced medical knowledge than previously understood, long before any medical information was recorded.
Groundbreaking Info About Antibiotic Resistance
The study also revealed that prehistoric humans possessed antibiotic resistance genes dating back to 4,300 B.C.. This supports the “resistome hypothesis,” which posits that antibiotic resistance evolved naturally in the bacteria of soil before it was developed by humans for modern medicines. Scientists believe that antibiotic resistance was further shaped by environmental and ecological factors, such as mineral-rich water.
“Antibiotic resistance is not only a consequence of modern drug use but a deeply rooted ecological trait,” explained Dr. İkran Öztürk, lead researcher from ZBEU’s Faculty of Pharmacy. Öztürk added that these most recent discoveries underscore the role archaeology plays in understanding medical development.
