Leo Gillick
One of the oldest and biggest poo discoveries exists in York, England, as a thousand-year-old relic of a rather meaty diet.
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What is it: The poo in question was discovered during excavations of the old Viking capital in the north of England. The 1200-year-old bowel movement is a fossilised piece of history, also known as a coprolite. Not only is it one of the oldest found, but it is also one of the largest.
The Viking who laid this enormous log was clearly a warrior. The poo comes in at an unbelievably large 20 centimeters (8 inches) long and 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide. This takes the crown as the biggest ever discovered. Something that huge deserves to be memorialised for all time.
It is on display in the Jorvik Viking Centre in York. All can now marvel at the wonder of the oldest, largest poo discovered. I wonder if the Viking in question knew what impact his huge turd would leave on history, thousands of years later?
A Stinky Insight
Why it matters: An awful lot can be gleaned from a humble thousand-year-old poo. Even now, doctors will regularly use stool samples to determine diet, health, and lifestyle. Taking a look at the Viking dump gives scientists some fascinating insight into life all those years ago.
I think that even the layman can determine, with a poo of this magnitude, the diet of this Viking wasn’t exactly rich in fiber. It must have been a monster to pass. According to the study, this Viking lived on a diet consistent almost exclusively of meat and bread.
- Despite others in the area also eating shellfish, fruit, veg, and nuts, this person kept it carnivorous. No traces of vegetables, fruits, or nuts were found in the poo. Even Vikings must have known that a balanced diet was important. Having to force out a longboat-sized turd would be enough.
In addition to his bad diet, the excrement signifies that the Viking was plagued by parasites. The thousand-year-old turd showed that our man from the past
