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Archaeology & History

Roman toilet paper mistaken for toys

By T.K. Randall
January 25, 2013 · Comment icon 25 comments

Image Credit: Matthias Kabel
Ceramic disks once thought to be game pieces have turned out to be an ancient form of toilet roll.
The objects have been reclassified as sanitary devices thanks to a new study by researchers. The somewhat uncomfortable form of toilet paper would have been used by the ancient Romans to clean themselves after a visit to the facilities. In a further humorous twist, it is thought that some Romans would have etched the names of people they didn't like on to a disk before using it.

The ancient Romans were well known for building some of the most sophisticated public toilets in the ancient world with designs that would disappear alongside them and wouldn't be rediscovered for hundreds of years.
Ancient artifacts in a British museum have been reclassified as Roman toilet paper. Previously they were displayed as gaming pieces until researchers took another look at them. The artifacts are made of ceramic, and would have been rather - uncomfortable.


Source: Catholic.org | Comments (25)

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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #16 Posted by thewild 11 years ago
I am sure that the stones worked fine because they used them through the Greek period through the Roman Empire They did have an awful lot of rocks laying around over there on those lands
Comment icon #17 Posted by Erowin 11 years ago
Leaves are much softer! Why not forest vegetation? That wouldn't wipe you clean, it would scrape you clean
Comment icon #18 Posted by Hartmut 11 years ago
Gee, were they all stupid? Whats wrong with using pieces of cloth? They could even be used several times, like baby nappies, if washed.
Comment icon #19 Posted by Lava_Lady 11 years ago
That is one of the things I dislike about having to go to the States sometimes; they force you to use toilet paper. A simple sprayer or of course one of the modern toilets that does it all from inside the bowl, or even a bidet, is much cleaner, doesn't require the destruction of trees, is much easier on the sewerage system and is more comfortable (especially for those with handicaps and the obese). I provide toilet paper in my house for those who feel they need to dry themselves after spraying, but I think this unnecessary. Hello, where it's the sprayer located if not in the toilet bowl? Does ... [More]
Comment icon #20 Posted by chopmo 11 years ago
Leaves are much softer! Why not forest vegetation? That wouldn't wipe you clean, it would scrape you clean Would you have liked to be the first person to put poison ivy on your anus!
Comment icon #21 Posted by Eihpospiritamer 11 years ago
" In a further humorous twist, it is thought that some Romans would have etched the names of people they didn't like on to a disk before using it." b****y.
Comment icon #22 Posted by Frank Merton 11 years ago
Hello, where it's the sprayer located if not in the toilet bowl? Sometimes in the seat, sometimes on the side where you spray manually.Does it get sanitized after each use? I can't imagine putting my panties back on with a wet butt after spraying. Sounds uncomfortable and not very sanitary. Obviously you don't understand; it's much more sanitary than putting things up your butt -- the only thing that touches you is fresh water. Some of the more high-class units come with air driers, but I always saw that as wasting power. It only takes a second or so and you are dry enough.It is especially goo... [More]
Comment icon #23 Posted by Lava_Lady 11 years ago
Sometimes in the seat, sometimes on the side where you spray manually.Obviously you don't understand; it's much more sanitary than putting things up your butt -- the only thing that touches you is fresh water. Some of the more high-class units come with air driers, but I always saw that as wasting power. It only takes a second or so and you are dry enough. It is especially good for the obese and people with handicaps that prevent their reaching back there. It also saves money and effort keeping the paper available, and is much less a strain on the sewage system. Hmm thanks. I've never seen one... [More]
Comment icon #24 Posted by shrooma 11 years ago
in the article it says that the romans had the most sophisticated toilets in the ancient world, with designs that were lost for hundreds of years after. when skara brae was excavated in the 1920's, they found a toilet in every home, that was kept clean by a constant flow of running seawater that formed an extremely effective sewage disposal system. skara brae is over five thousand years old, and a MUCH better system than the roman one. after all, crapping through a hole into a pit isn't all that 'sophisticated'. proof again the scots invented just about everything worth inventing.....
Comment icon #25 Posted by justcalmebubba 11 years ago
well i guess its safe to say them with stinky ass is in b****y mood!
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