Human parasites from Qumran and the surrounding regions in Israel

Lice ar mentioned in the Bible as the 3rd plague visited on the Egyptians, while the Talmud distinguishes between lice of the head and those of the body. In Israel, 9,000 years-old head louse egges were found from hairs samples of an individual who lived in Nahal Hemar Cave near the Dead Sea. Head lice and their eggs were also found in combs recovered from Qumran. The combs from Qumran contained a large number of lice and eggs, and were most pobably not used by men. Examination and grooming to remove lice from the head of an infested individual was practically always a social interaction between mother anc hild. Essenians were therefore either living or had a close contact with women and children. Remains of a body louse were found in one of the rooms at Masada fortress, known as the "Casemate of the Scrolls". Eggs of the helminthic parasites Ascaris sp. Taenia sp. and Trichuris sp. were found in a locus in Qumran (No. 51) which is believed to be a latrine.