Lloyds Bank coprolite

The Lloyds Bank coprolite is a large coprolite, or fossilised specimen of human faeces, recovered by the York Archaeological Trust while excavating the Viking settlement of Jórvík (present-day York) in northern England.

Lloyds Bank coprolite
On display at Jorvik Viking Centre
MaterialPalaeofaeces
Created9th century
Discovered1972 excavation, Pavement, York
Present locationJorvik Viking Centre

Description

The coprolite was found in 1972 beneath the site of what was to become the branch of Lloyds Bank on Pavement in York, and may be the largest example of fossilised human faeces (palaeofaeces) ever found,[1] measuring 20 centimetres (8 in) long and 5 centimetres (2 in) wide. Analysis of the stool has indicated that its producer subsisted largely on meat and bread whilst the presence of several hundred parasitic eggs suggests they were riddled with intestinal worms. In 1991, Andrew Jones, a York Archaeological Trust employee and palaeoscatologist, made international news with his appraisal of the item for insurance purposes: "This is the most exciting piece of excrement I've ever seen ... In its own way, it's as irreplaceable as the Crown Jewels".[2] The layers that covered the coprolite were moist and peaty. The archaeologists also preserved timber, textiles and leather from the site.[3]

Display

The specimen was put on display at the Archaeological Resource Centre, an outreach and education centre run by the York Archaeological Trust.[4] In 2003, the coprolite broke into three pieces after being dropped while being exhibited to a party of visitors, and efforts were undertaken to reconstruct it.[4] It has been displayed at Jorvik Viking Centre since 2008.

References
  1. Brewer, Kirstie (12 May 2016). "Paleoscatologists dig up stools 'as precious as the crown jewels'". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Ltd. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  2. Horwitz, Tony (9 September 1991). "Endangered Feces: Paleo-Scatologist Plumbs Old Privies --- It May Not Be the Lost Ark, But Then, Andrew Isn't Exactly Indiana Jones". Wall Street Journal. p. A1.
  3. "Coppergate Dig". Jorvik Viking Centre. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  4. Simon Jeffery (6 June 2003). "Museum's broken treasure not just any old shit". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2013.

Further reading
  • Jones, A (1983). "A Coprolite from 6–8 Pavement". In Hall, AR; Kenward, HK; Williams, D; Greig, JRA (eds.). Environment and living conditions at two Anglo-Scandinavian sites. York: Council of British Archaeology. pp. 225–229. ISBN 0-906780-30-6.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lloyds Bank coprolite.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.