The Gut Microbiome Was More Diverse in Ancient People What can we learn from a specimen of ancient poo? A lot, it turns out. Scientists have now reported their findings from an analysis of thousand-year-old human paleofeces in Nature. The work revealed that ancient people had far more diverse microbial species in their guts compared to modern humans. This work may help researchers learn more about diseases that are more prevalent in industrial societies. "We need to have some specific microorganisms in the right ratios for our bodies to operate effectively," said study co-author Dr. Meradeth Snow, co-chair of the University of Montana's Department of Anthropology. "It's a symbiotic relationship. But when we study people today - anywhere on the planet - we know that their gut microbiomes have been influenced by our modern world, either through diet, chemicals, antibiotics, or a host of other things. So understanding what the gut microbiome looked like before industrialization happened helps us understand what's different in today's guts."