Back to the roots: dental calculus analysis of the first documented case of coeliac disease

Dental calculus of a Roman woman (late first century–early second century CE), supposed to be the first historical evidence of coeliac disease (CD), was subjected to archaeobotanical investigations for reconstructing diet and phytotherapeutic practices. Light microscopy provided the proof she came in contact with gluten-rich cereals (i.e. Triticeae, Aveninae), which, maybe, were deleterious for a CD genetic predisposed individual like her. Gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry revealed that the young woman ingested, at least once in lifetime, plant foods and several herbs (e.g. Brassicaceae, Mentha sp., Valeriana sp., Apiaceae, Asteraceae, grapes or wine, honeydew or manna). About the latter, surprisingly, markers of Curcuma sp. and Panax sp. were detected. The consumption of these rhizomes, already used in the ancient Oriental medicine, supported the existence of cultural contact and exchange with the Eastern Asia. Encouraged by modern knowledge, we hypothesised that the inhumate used these roots as natural remedies to soothe her pathological condition. Our data provided information about the key role of the ethnobotany in Roman Imperial age.