2020/11/06 by Maria Teschler‐Nicola, Daniel Fernandes, Marc Händel +13 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Arts and Humanities · Earth and Planetary Sciences · Medicine · #Forensic and Genetic Research #Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Breastfeeding #Ancient DNA #Medicine #Pediatrics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s42003-020-01372-8
openalex publication_date 2020/11/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
The Upper Palaeolithic double burial of newborns and the single burial of a ca. 3-month-old infant uncovered at the Gravettian site of Krems-Wachtberg, Austria, are of paramount importance given the rarity of immature human remains from this time. Genome-wide ancient DNA shows that the male infants of the double grave are the earliest reported case of monozygotic twins, while the single grave´s individual was their 3rd-degree male relative. We assessed the individuals´ age at death by applying histological and µCT inspection of the maxillary second incisors (i2) in conjunction with C- and N-isotope ratios and Barium (Ba) intake as biomarker for breastfeeding. The results show that the twins were full-term newborns, and that while individual 2 died at birth, individual 1 survived for about 50 days. The findings show that Gravettian mortuary behaviour also included re-opening of a grave and manipulation of its layout and content.