Ancient Drugs Unearthed In Istanbul: Archaeologists In Turkey Find 1,400 Year Old Antidepressants And Heart Disease Medications

RTXOQL0 — A general view of the excavation site where an ancient port from the fourth century was found in Istanbul June 20, 2006. Reuters

An archaeological dig in Istanbul yielded the largest ever collection of ancient medicine, including drugs for heart disease and depression. Seven hundred vials of 1,400-year-old medications were unearthed during an excavation of Bathonea in Turkey’s Avcilar region, Turkey’s Hurriyet Daily News reported.

“The analysis of remnants in the bottles was made by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey,” said Sengul Aydingun, head of the excavation. “They got the formulas of two drugs, methanone and phenanthrene. One of them is an antidepressant and the other is used in cases of heart disease.”

Archeologists also found mortars, pestles and a large cooker alongside medical tools and spatulas. “It seems that there was a drug production center around here,” said Aydingun.

The artifacts show evidence of large-scale drug production that operated even in winter. The collection was delivered to various museums for safekeeping.

Evidence of depression goes as far back as the second millennium B.C., when Mesopotamian writings documented cases of “melancholia.” The ancient Greeks and Romans also referenced depression, but the prevailing wisdom of all three groups maintained that it was caused by possession from demonic spirits rather than by physical and environmental factors.

RTXJQ23 — Ancient Zeugma ruins from the Roman era overlooks the river of Euphrates near the village of Belkis near the southeast Turkish town of Birecik. May 10, 2000 Reuters

The ancient drugs and tools unearthed also provided evidence of the scale of attacks by enemies on Istanbul’s soil. The relics were found underneath a layer of destroyed structure and ash caused by an attack by the Avar Empire believed to have taken place in 646 A.D. The excavation provide the first tangible proof that the invasion took place at that time.

Digging at Bathonea began in 2007 on the shore of Lake Kucukcekmece after the site was uncovered by drought in the region. It’s possible that additional artifacts could be found deeper in the lake but further digging remains obstructed. “About 90 percent of the water is filled with sewage, nuclear, and industrial waste,” said Aydingun.