logo
Scientists may have solved 2,000-year-old mystery death of Roman baby twins

Scientists may have solved 2,000-year-old mystery death of Roman baby twins

Independent28-05-2025

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email
*
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
Lead poisoning may have played a role in the death of fraternal twin babies from 2,000 years ago found buried facing each other in Croatia, according to a new study.
Though it's unclear exactly how the infants died, researchers, including Anna Osterholtz from Mississippi State University, suspect lead poisoning may have played a role.
The rare double burial was discovered in the Dragulin cemetery in the Croatian city of Trogir, which was part of the Roman province of Illyricum around 47BC.
Archaeologists first excavated the cemetery in 2016 when construction for a new parking lot uncovered ancient stone urns.
A DNA analysis revealed the infants were fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, buried together in the first or second century AD.
'They were buried in a single event, suggesting that they died at the same time, possibly as stillbirths,' the study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science concluded.
Artist's drawing of the double burial
( M Daniel Watkins )
Analysis of the skeletons indicated 'significant metabolic disease' in the infant twins and a 'typical Roman diet with marine foods'. The twins likely suffered from nutritional deficiencies, like scurvy or rickets, with their bodies unable to utilise some nutrients.
Researchers suspect their mother was malnourished or suffered from a metabolic disease herself which contributed to the poor health of the babies. Alternatively, the study suggests, the infants may have died from metabolic complications caused by lead poisoning.
'Lead poisoning has been linked to increased rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant mortality as well,' the study noted. 'This is due to the fact that lead exposure on the part of the mother is transmitted through placenta to the fetus and later through breast milk to the infant which may start to display pathological changes.'
Previous studies have documented the key role played by lead poisoning in the fall of the Roman Empire.
The Roman world widely used the toxic metal in its pipes and cookware as well as a food preservative and a sweetener in wine.
Researchers found conditions in the skeletons of the twins consistent with the effects of lead poisoning such as increased bone porosity.
A recent study of 150 people from ancient sites in Croatia also showed a 'tremendous increase in lead levels during the Roman period', the study said. 'The fact that a similar trend was noticed in several Roman period sites in the immediate vicinity of Tragurium may be additional confirmation for this hypothesis.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Shocking marriage secrets of Alabama chiropractor, 36, on trial for 'poisoning wife, 25, in bid for life insurance payout'
Shocking marriage secrets of Alabama chiropractor, 36, on trial for 'poisoning wife, 25, in bid for life insurance payout'

Daily Mail​

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Shocking marriage secrets of Alabama chiropractor, 36, on trial for 'poisoning wife, 25, in bid for life insurance payout'

An Alabama chiropractor's wife who has accused her husband of trying to poison her has testified that the first few years of their marriage were 'rough.' Hannah Mann, 25, gave evidence on Tuesday that her marriage to Brian Thomas Mann was 'isolating' and the first few years were a struggle for the couple, who only dated for six months before tying the knot. Brian Mann is charged with her attempted murder after it was alleged he continually poisoned her with lead inside their marital home in Decatur. He has pleaded not guilty. 'The first year and a half I would say was pretty rough,' she said of their marriage, according to The Decatur Daily. 'We had a lot of things to overcome, but it progressively got better as time went on. We had a couple of bumps in the road.' She remembered her marriage to Brian, 36, getting better after the birth of their first child in January 2020, but not even a year later, she began to fall ill. Hannah also testified that her husband began poisoning her in 2021, causing her to develop 'severe abdominal pain and really severe back pain and extreme nausea.' By August 2021, she began feeling ill and got an X-ray in October, where doctors found a glitter-like substance inside her. 'They took an X-ray of me, and it showed a bunch of glitter in my stomach,' she told the court. However, she wasn't immediately diagnosed with lead poisoning. She was during a follow-up visit, which after, her husband began to discourage her from seeking medical help, she testified. 'He would say they would send me right back home if I went to the doctor,' she said. By November 2021, she began experiencing dizzy spells. By the end of the year, she had lost 50 pounds, she testified, saying she weighed around 100 pounds then. The mother-of-two also claimed her husband isolated her - forcing her to get rid of all her social media accounts when they married in 2018 and discouraged her mother from coming over while she was ill. Her mother would sneak over while Brian was out, Hannah testified. The main group of people she'd be around while she was allegedly being poisoned was her husband's family and her church family, she said. Brian's alleged plan to cash out on the multimillion life insurance policies he had for his wife began to unravel after she was diagnosed with lead poisoning. She was hospitalized between January and March 2022. It was in late January that the now-Hartselle Police Chief Alan McDearmond received a call from Department of Human Resources that Hannah had been poisoned and encouraged the police to place Brian under arrest, he testified. When they arrived at his residence, he wasn't home, according to his mom and grandmother. 'I talked to them about what had happened and asked if Brian was there. They said he wasn't,' he testified. When the husband later arrived at the home, he spoke with McDearmond, who asked if there was anything in the home that could have contained lead. 'Brian said Hannah took white powder, which was the generic form of Miralax, and from there we went back to the Police Department,' he said. Brian later called him from the hospital, where a nurse practitioner told the officer that another nurse at a different hospital had diagnosed the father-of-two with the same thing she did. An X-ray showed a substance in his stomach that he had recently digested. Police later took samples from Hannah's colostomy bag after getting a subpoena. It is unclear what police found. Just days after she left the hospital, Hannah dropped her bombshell accusation of attempted murder and filed for divorce. She detailed the $1.3million in life insurance policies he held against her and another $1.5million in two additional insurance applications that were denied. She amended her complaint days later, saying Brian 'perpetrated acts of assault upon her person … by intentionally causing her to unwittingly ingest particles of lead.' In late August 2022, Mann was indicted and on September 2 of that year he was arrested for attempted murder. He was released on $500,000 bond on September 7, 2022 with the conditions that he turn in his guns, wear an ankle monitor and give up his passport. A week later, however, Mann had his bond revoked because he allegedly did not give away his passport. In late November, Mann's father filed an affidavit asking his son to be released and promising he wouldn't flee the country.

Uncovered sarcophagus offers an ancient perspective on death
Uncovered sarcophagus offers an ancient perspective on death

The Independent

time7 hours ago

  • The Independent

Uncovered sarcophagus offers an ancient perspective on death

Archaeologists in Israel unearthed a 1,700-year-old marble sarcophagus depicting the Greek gods Hercules and Dionysus in a drinking contest near Caesarea. The sarcophagus, dating from the second or third century AD, suggests the area outside Caesarea was densely populated during the Roman period. The artefact portrays animals, trees, Hercules, and Dionysus, with Hercules shown unable to stand, indicating Dionysus won the drinking contest. Experts are restoring the sarcophagus, which provides a rare regional perspective on death, symbolising it as a transition to a new life rather than an end. Israel Antiquities Authority director Eli Escusido called the find "thought-provoking," highlighting its insights into Roman-era beliefs and daily life.

Amateur metal detectorists discover 1,100-year-old Viking remains
Amateur metal detectorists discover 1,100-year-old Viking remains

The Independent

time16 hours ago

  • The Independent

Amateur metal detectorists discover 1,100-year-old Viking remains

Archaeologists in Norway have discovered the 10th-century remains of a Viking woman buried in a boat grave with her dog, indicating elite status. The burial, found on Senja Island by amateur metal detectorists, included a 5.5m-long ship containing bronze brooches, weaving tools, and other artefacts dating back to 900-950 AD. Archaeologist Anja Roth Niemi noted that such boat burials were reserved for the elite, with the woman's grave goods differing from those found in male Viking boat burials. Researchers believe the woman was an important figure with significant social status, as indicated by the unique artefacts and burial practices. Further analysis of the bones aims to confirm the woman's identity, reveal details about her life, and provide insights into the society she lived in. Viking woman from over 1,100 years ago found buried with her dog and boat

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store