The researchers also revealed the cause of the toddler’s death.
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:38:42 Ice Age baby skeleton 17,000 years old. (©Nature Communications)
Scientists have succeeded in uncovering the origins of an Ice Age baby who lived 17,000 years ago in an area that is now part of Italy. Researchers revealed the origin of this baby after examining its skeleton.
This baby’s skeleton was discovered in southern Italy in 1998 and is known as the “Grotta delle Mura baby”. This baby is estimated to have died at the age of around 7.5 months to 1.5 years. He is 82 cm tall and probably has blue eyes, dark curly hair and brown skin, quoted from IFL Science, Thursday (14/11).
Anyone else asking too?
Its skeleton, found under a stone slab, is extremely well preserved, which is surprising considering its very old age – based on radiocarbon dating it is estimated to be between 17,320 and 16,910 years old. Therefore, researchers rarely get a glimpse of the characteristics, development, health, mortality and offspring of these unfortunate babies.
Based on the results of genetic analysis, the child likely suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a hereditary condition in which the heart muscle becomes thickened – which may have been the cause of his death.
The team also revealed the toddler’s parents were closely related – perhaps first cousins. According to the study’s author, Dr Alessandra Modi from the University of Florence, this inbreeding was “rare in the Paleolithic era, but more common in the Neolithic era.”
Dental Analysis
Analysis of 17,000 year old baby teeth. Nature Communications
A closer look at the little boy’s teeth revealed health problems before and after birth. There were at least nine proven episodes of physiological stress whose cause was unknown, but “these numbers reflect severe physical stress throughout development and life,” the researchers wrote.
Isotopes in the teeth suggest the child’s mother had low mobility in the final months of pregnancy and may have been malnourished. In addition, the discovery of a fracture in the baby’s collarbone indicated that the birth was difficult.
The results of this research were published in the journal Nature Communications.
Meet the Ice Age Baby: A 17,000-Year-Old Mystery Uncovered
The researchers also revealed the cause of the toddler’s death—it’s a little more complicated than just “playing with the dinosaurs!”
On November 14, 2024, scientists announced that they had successfully unearthed some fascinating insights into the life of an Ice Age baby who lived a whopping 17,000 years ago in what is now Italy. I mean, doesn’t the phrase “Ice Age baby” just make you want to get that awful song from the movie stuck in your head? No? Just me? Well, let’s move on!
The remains of this tiny human—who’s been lovingly dubbed the “Grotta delle Mura baby,” because (as you can guess) it was discovered in a cave—were located way back in 1998, but apparently, the researchers have only just gotten around to unpeeling the mysteries hidden in the little one’s bones. Talk about being fashionably late to the party! The baby is estimated to have lived until around 7.5 months to 1.5 years old and stood approximately 82 cm tall. What can I say? That’s one vertically-challenged toddler. Also, cue the blue eyes and dark curly hair—could we BE getting any closer to a Paleolithic Abercrombie model?
The skeleton, remarkably well-preserved under a stone slab, offers a rare peek into the world of ancient infants, which is a rarity since, apparently, the average Ice Age kid didn’t have a great track record of making it past toddlerhood. Thanks to some snazzy radiocarbon dating, scientists determined this little fellow’s bones are estimated to be between 17,320 and 16,910 years old. Now that’s what I call historical range!
But it seems this ice-loving munchkin had some severe health troubles; genetic analysis hinted at hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a hereditary condition that makes the heart muscle thicker than a 2000s emo band’s eyeliner. Unsurprisingly, this might have been the very reason for his untimely shuffle off this mortal coil.
Parental Relations—The Family Tree Gets Twisted
Here’s a juicy tidbit for you: the skeleton’s parents are suspected to be closely related—possibly first cousins! Dr. Alessandra Modi from the University of Florence, who presumably is the family gossip of the archaeology field, remarked that inbreeding was “rare in the Paleolithic era, but more common in the Neolithic era.” So, if there was ever a time to double-check your family tree for surprise cousins, now might be it!
Highlighting Dental Drama: It’s All in the Teeth
The drama doesn’t stop there; oh no! A forensic examination of our young friend’s teeth showed health problems well before and after birth. The researchers counted at least nine episodes of physiological stress, which seems like this baby experienced more drama before it could say “Mama” than most soap opera stars, bless its tiny heart.
To add some icing on the cake (because we love cake), isotopes in the baby’s teeth indicated that its mother might have been malnourished, and low mobility in her late-pregnancy days didn’t help either. Let’s not forget about the collarbone fracture, which suggests this little one passed through the world with a bit of a *bang*. Seriously, it sounds like this child was destined for a Netflix documentary entitled “Unfortunate Events of the Ancient World.”
In summary, the unraveling of this ancient Ice Age baby provides not just fascinating insight into the past but also a gentle reminder that, while life back then was surely tough, some things never change—such as family drama and medical conditions. The full details of this well-preserved chapter of history have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
The researchers also revealed the cause of the toddler’s death.
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 17:38:42 Ice Age baby skeleton 17,000 years old. (©Nature Communications)
Scientists have successfully traced the origins of an Ice Age infant, who lived approximately 17,000 years ago in what is now southern Italy. Their groundbreaking research provides significant insights after a meticulous examination of the well-preserved skeleton.
This exceptionally well-preserved skeleton, discovered in the Grotta delle Mura site in southern Italy in 1998, is believed to belong to a baby who died between the ages of 7.5 months and 1.5 years. The child is estimated to have stood 82 cm tall and is believed to have had blue eyes, dark curly hair, and brown skin, as reported by IFL Science on Thursday (14/11).
Radiocarbon dating suggests that the skeleton’s age falls between 17,320 and 16,910 years, making this find particularly rare. Due to such exceptional preservation, researchers typically have limited opportunities to explore various characteristics, the health, mortality rates, and living conditions of infants from this era.
Genetic analysis of the remains indicates that the child likely had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a hereditary condition that causes the heart muscle to thicken, which may have led to its untimely death. In addition, the study revealed that the toddler’s parents were likely closely related, possibly first cousins. Dr. Alessandra Modi from the University of Florence noted that while inbreeding was “rare in the Paleolithic era, it became more common during the Neolithic period.”
Dental Analysis
A detailed analysis of the toddler’s dental remains uncovered significant health issues both pre-and post-natally. Researchers discovered at least nine episodes of physiological stress, the causes of which remain unclear, but they noted that “these numbers reflect severe physical stress throughout development and life.”
Isotopic investigations of the teeth indicate that the child’s mother experienced low mobility during the final months of her pregnancy and possibly faced malnutrition. Furthermore, the presence of a fracture in the baby’s collarbone hints at complications during childbirth.
The findings of this extensive research have been documented in the renowned journal, Nature Communications.
What are the health implications of inbreeding observed in ancient infants from the Paleolithic era?
5 years and measured around 82 cm in height. Genetic studies suggest the baby may have had blue eyes, dark curly hair, and brown skin, offering a glimpse into the physical appearance of infants from the Paleolithic era.
Radiocarbon dating estimates the skeleton’s age between 17,320 and 16,910 years, making this discovery a rare opportunity to learn about the early development, health challenges, and mortality factors affecting ancient infants. Researchers noted that the child likely suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition characterized by an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, which may have contributed to their early death.
Additionally, the findings from genetic analysis indicate that the child’s parents were likely closely related, possibly first cousins. This level of inbreeding, as noted by study author Dr. Alessandra Modi from the University of Florence, was unusual during the Paleolithic era but appeared to be more common in the subsequent Neolithic period.
The investigation into the infant’s health also involved a thorough dental analysis, revealing significant physiological stress events throughout their early life. Specifically, the baby’s teeth showed at least nine episodes of stress, reflecting hardships faced during development. Isotopic analysis indicated that the mother may have experienced low mobility and malnourishment in her later months of pregnancy, which could adversely affect the baby’s health. The discovery of a collarbone fracture hints at complications during childbirth.
the research not only sheds light on the conditions faced by infants in prehistoric times but is a poignant reminder of the struggles of early human life. The full findings were published in the journal Nature Communications, offering a fascinating look into the past and the challenges of survival faced by our ancient ancestors.
