Anti-depressant medicine dating back 1,300 years discovered in Bathonea

It seems that even back in the ancient times people were prone to depression as archaeological finds from the Ancient Hellenic city of Bathonea, located on the banks of Küçükçekmece Lake in Turkey has revealed.

The city of Bathonea dates back to the 2nd century BC and is located in Istanbul’s Avcilar District and archaeologists have discovered many finds among the ruins of the ancient city, including seven hundred small glass and ceramic bottles containing medicines that are believed to have been used to treat depression and heart disease.

According to published material  from Hürriyet Daily News, there were more than just the seven hundred bottles that gave insight into the activities of this ancient society as archaeologists also uncovered an entire laboratory, complete with mortars, pestles and big cookers alongside many spatulas and other medical tools.

The laboratory itself is believed to be from around 7th century AD or earlier and evidence of a fire dating between 620 AD and 640 AD has led archeologists to believe that it was most likely destroyed during an attack by the Avar Empire in 626 AD.

The medicine found in the bottles was made from local plants which were also uncovered in the excavation. The two medicines found were methadone, which is an antidepressant and phenanthrene, which is used for heart disease, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) reported.