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Twin Premature Infants Buried in 12th‑Century Ephesus Latrine Near Artemis Temple
Archaeologists working at the sanctuary of Artemis in Ephesus, Turkey, uncovered two premature newborn skeletons inside an abandoned Roman latrine channel. The burial dates to the mid‑Byzantine period (eighth to ninth century AD), making it roughly 1,200 years old.
The infants were about 33–34 weeks gestation, indicating they were born prematurely and likely survived only hours or days. Their ages at death are almost identical and they were placed side by side, suggesting they were twins, a hypothesis that can only be confirmed through DNA analysis. One of the skeletons bears a rare supernumerary cervical rib, a genetic variation seen in about 1% of the population. No signs of trauma or infection were found, and the bodies appear to have been carefully wrapped, possibly in cloth, reflecting a deliberate and respectful burial. The study, led by bioarchaeologists Caroline Partiot and Lilli Zabrana of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, was published in the journal *Childhood in the Past*.
Entities
Artemis Temple · Austrian Academy of Sciences · Caroline Partiot · Ephesus · Ephesus archaeological site · Lilli Zabrana · Temple of Artemis
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] One infant had an extra cervical rib, a rare skeletal trait. www.mistikalem.com · halktv.com.tr · hindi.news18.com · historia.ro · www.tv9hindi.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] DNA analysis is required to confirm whether the infants were biologically twins. www.mistikalem.com · halktv.com.tr · hindi.news18.com · historia.ro · historycollection.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] No evidence of trauma or infection was found on the skeletons. www.mistikalem.com · halktv.com.tr · hindi.news18.com · historia.ro · historycollection.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The burial dates to the 8th–9th century AD (mid‑Byzantine period). www.mistikalem.com · halktv.com.tr · hindi.news18.com · historia.ro · historycollection.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Two premature newborn skeletons were discovered in an abandoned Roman latrine at the sanctuary of Artemis in Ephesus. www.mistikalem.com · halktv.com.tr · hindi.news18.com · historia.ro · historycollection.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The bodies were carefully wrapped, possibly in cloth, indicating deliberate burial. www.mistikalem.com · halktv.com.tr · hindi.news18.com · historia.ro · historycollection.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The infants were likely twins, based on similar age and burial side by side. www.mistikalem.com · halktv.com.tr · hindi.news18.com · historia.ro · historycollection.com · +1 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The infants were approximately 33–34 weeks gestational age, indicating prematurity. www.mistikalem.com · halktv.com.tr · hindi.news18.com · historia.ro · historycollection.com · +1 more