Scientists are one step closer to testing ancient skeletons for pregnancy

quote:

---

“By understanding reproductive profiles of the past, this can provide insights into how these may have changed over time and perhaps glimpses of the future,”

---

quote:

---

“This will be especially useful for historical periods where no written records exist,” Barlow said.

---

quote:

---

Scientists say they have found a way to test ancient human remains for hormones linked with pregnancy, a breakthrough that may allow archaeologists to determine whether a woman was pregnant or had recently given birth at the time of her death.

Researchers found key reproductive hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in hard tissues, such as the bones and teeth, of skeletons dating back as far as 1,000 years, according to a study published October 2 in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

“We found a ‘hormone archive’ in skeletons and teeth,” said lead study author Aimée Barlow, an archaeologist at the University of Sheffield, northern England.

---