Pill popping during the Roman Empire? | Print |

In the Archaeological Museum of Populonia in Piombino, Tuscany, lies the remains of an ancient ship that sank off the coast of Tuscany in 130 B.C. The ship was actually found in 1974.

Part of the wreckage included pills that were sealed in several tin containers. They were completely dry even after being submerged in water for close to 2,000 years.

Using DNA techniques, they were able to identify that the tablets contained about a dozen dried garden plants including celery, carrots, radish, onion, parsley, etc.

It appears that even during ancient Rome, they were using these pills to treat skin disorders, intestinal disorders, vitamin supplements, etc.