Archaeologists from the University of Colorado have discovered the oldest European child burial in Italy. Remains about 10 thousand years old were found in a cave in the Ligurian part of the Alps. As Gazeta.Ru writes with reference to the publication of archaeologists in the magazine Scientific Reports, a girl who had not lived even two months was buried in the grave.
At first, the researchers found several beads made from shells. Then they found a skull that belonged to a girl 40-50 days old. Analysis of the baby’s teeth for nitrogen and carbon content showed that the baby’s mother ate mainly plant foods, most likely obtained by gathering. Also, during pregnancy, the mother experienced stress, it several times led to a stop in the growth of the child’s teeth. The deceased girl was buried along with several dozen beads made of shells and stones.
Scientists gave the girl the name Neve. The cause of her death is unclear. But the very fact of burial shows that even babies in ancient times in this part of Europe were considered full-fledged people, like adults.
Recall that a similar burial was previously discovered by another group in Alaska. This gives reason to believe that the culture of the burial of babies appeared among peoples who then migrated to Europe and North America.
Source: Rosbalt
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