Study reveals ancient vessels used as baby bottles

2 Oct 2019

Study reveals ancient vessels used as baby bottles

Study reveals ancient vessels used as baby bottlesResearchers from the University of Bristol’s Organic Geochemistry Unit have discovered that some ancient small pots have remains of animal milk.

They believe that these may have been used as ancient baby bottles, thousands of years ago.

The three ceramic, spouted* vessels (pots) were found in children's graves in Bavaria.  Two of them were found from an Iron Age cemetery dated between 450 and 800 BCE, while another one is from a Bronze Age necropolis* dated between 800 and 1200 BCE.
 	Historians believe that these vessels could be baby bottles or used to feed those who were sick.

Tests have revealed that the vessels contain remains of animal milk.
 	These bowls will have acted like baby bottles used during the weaning process*.
 	The research also suggests that the milk used in the bottles from domesticated animals like cows or sheep.
 	The study was published in the journal Nature.

*Weaning - the gradual replacement of breastfeeding with other foods.

*Spout - an opening that allows the flow of liquids

*Necropolis - a large, designed cemetery

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Researchers from the University of Bristol’s Organic Geochemistry Unit have discovered that some ancient small pots have remains of animal milk. They believe that these […]

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