Enteric helminths are common parasites in many parts of the world and in the past were much more widespread both geographically and socially. Many enteric helminths are relatively long-lived in the human host, often benign or of low pathogenicity while producing large numbers of environmentally resistant eggs voided in the faeces or found associated with individual remains (skeletons and mummies). The combination of helminth characters offers opportunities to the field of historical pathogen research that are quite different to that of some of the more intensively studied high impact pathogens. Historically, a wealth of studies has employed microscopic techniques to diagnose infection using the morphology of the helminth eggs. More recently, various ancient DNA (aDNA) approaches have been applied in the archaeoparasitological context and these are revolutionizing the field, allowing much more specific diagnosis as well as interrogating the epidemiology of helminths. These advances have enhanced the potential for the field to provide unique information on past populations including using diseases to consider many aspects of life (e.g. sanitation, hygiene, diet, culinary practices and other aspects of society). Here, we consider the impact of helminth archaeoparasitology and more specifically the impact and potential for application of aDNA technologies as a part of the archaeologists' toolkit.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Insights into health and disease from ancient biomolecules’.

肠道蠕虫是世界许多地方的常见寄生虫，过去在地理和社会上都更为普遍。许多肠道蠕虫在人类宿主中的寿命相对较长，通常是良性的或低致病性的，同时产生大量在粪便中排空或与个体遗骸（骨骼和木乃伊）相关的环境抗性虫卵。蠕虫特征的组合为历史病原体研究领域提供了机会，这些研究与一些更深入研究的高影响病原体的研究截然不同。从历史上看，大量研究采用显微技术通过蠕虫卵的形态来诊断感染。最近，各种古代 DNA (aDNA) 方法已应用于考古寄生虫学背景，这些方法正在彻底改变该领域，允许更具体的诊断以及询问蠕虫的流行病学。这些进步增强了该领域提供关于过去人口的独特信息的潜力，包括利用疾病来考虑生活的许多方面（例如卫生、卫生、饮食、烹饪习惯和社会的其他方面）。在这里，我们考虑了蠕虫考古寄生虫学的影响，更具体地说是将 aDNA 技术作为考古学家工具包的一部分应用的影响和潜力。这些进步增强了该领域提供关于过去人口的独特信息的潜力，包括利用疾病来考虑生活的许多方面（例如卫生、卫生、饮食、烹饪习惯和社会的其他方面）。在这里，我们考虑了蠕虫考古寄生虫学的影响，更具体地说是将 aDNA 技术作为考古学家工具包的一部分应用的影响和潜力。这些进步增强了该领域提供关于过去人口的独特信息的潜力，包括利用疾病来考虑生活的许多方面（例如卫生、卫生、饮食、烹饪习惯和社会的其他方面）。在这里，我们考虑了蠕虫考古寄生虫学的影响，更具体地说是将 aDNA 技术作为考古学家工具包的一部分应用的影响和潜力。

这篇文章是主题问题“从古代生物分子洞察健康和疾病”的一部分。