Archaeologists can now determine pregnancy status of skeletons

[guy]

This is a highly technical article that demonstrates, for the first time, that researchers have detected levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in the skeletal remains of women from the 1st to the 19th century AD – some of whom were buried with fetuses.

 

In ancient Rome, childbirth was perilous for both mothers and infants. Here's what the evidence suggests:

👩‍🦰 Maternal Mortality

Estimates indicate that Ancient Roman maternal death rates during childbirth may have reached 1.4% per case, or 14 deaths per 1,000 births. Compared to 1997, when the rate had dropped sharply in the United States to 7.7 deaths per 100,000 live births — or 0.077 deaths per 1,000 live births — thanks to medical advances, improved hygiene, and better prenatal care.

The highest female death rates occurred between ages 15–29, the main childbearing years. Longevity only improved for females after they left their prime childbearing years.

Tombstone inscriptions (see below), like that of Rusticeia Matrona from Mauretania, explicitly state childbirth as the cause of death.

Rusticeia Matrona probably lived during the Roman Imperial period, most likely between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD, based on the archaeological context of her tombstone inscription found at Ain Kebira in Mauretania (modern Algeria). Although the exact date of her life isn't given in the inscription, scholars link it to the Roman presence in North Africa, especially when Mauretania was a Roman province.

Quote

 

Female mortality is highest between ages 15-29, as in the case of Rusticeia Matrona of Mauretania, whose husband dedicated the following inscription:

“Sacred to the gods of the dead. Rusticeia Matrona lived 25 years. The cause of my death was childbirth and a malignant fate.” 

 

👶 Infant Mortality

Infant mortality in ancient Rome ranged from 15% to 35%, meaning up to one-third of babies died soon after birth.

Surviving past age five was a major milestone; only then was a child considered likely to reach adulthood.

🧪 Contributing Factors

Insufficient antiseptic practices, limited anatomical understanding, and dependence on midwives and religious rituals made childbirth very dangerous.

Women often gave birth multiple times—elite Roman matrons might have 6 to 9 children over their lifetime.

 

🧬 Breakthrough in Bioarchaeology Researchers have, for the first time, successfully detected sex hormones—estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—in ancient skeletal remains of women dating from the 1st to the 19th century AD. This includes individuals buried with fetuses, suggesting they died during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth.

🔍 Method and Significance

Hormonal traces were detected in bones and teeth, which retain biochemical signals much longer than previously believed.

This creates a new way to identify pregnancy and postpartum status in archaeological settings, providing insights into maternal mortality and reproductive health in ancient populations..

🏛️ Implications for Archaeology

The method could transform how archaeologists analyze female burials, particularly those with fetal remains.

It introduces a biochemical aspect to osteological analysis, complementing traditional morphological and genetic approaches.

 

https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10214986/1/Hemer_Author Accepted Manuscript_ First successful detection of oestrogen.pdf

 

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2499833-pregnancy-test-for-skeletons-could-help-reveal-ancient-mothers/

Edited October 14, 2025 by guy