Uncovering Ancient Secrets: Why Did Neolithic Parents Choose Animal-Shaped Bottles for Their Babies?
Who knew that the humble baby bottle dates back thousands of years—and that these ancient nursing tools might just explain a prehistoric baby boom? Picture this: Bronze and Iron Age parents popping animal-shaped clay bottles filled with sheep, goat, or cow milk into their kiddos’ hands—like tiny mythical creatures doubling as baby toys! It’s wild to think these adorable little vessels, discovered in Bavarian infant graves, were once mistaken for feeding the elderly or infirm. But here’s the kicker—switching babies from mother’s milk to animal milk possibly unlocked a fertility secret, giving momma prehistoric women a chance to multiply their tribes faster than ever. Of course, those spouted pots were a nightmare to clean (yikes!), leading to plenty of infant illness and heartbreak. Still, this groundbreaking find by University of Bristol’s Julie Dunne unwraps an entirely new chapter on motherhood, childcare, and population growth from way back when. Ready to get the full scoop on how baby bottles may have stirred up a Neolithic population boom? LEARN MORE
Baby bottles date back thousands of years — and may help explain a prehistoric baby boom.
Enver-Hirsch/Wien MuseumThese ancient clay vessels were previously thought to have been used to feed the invalid or elderly.
Prehistoric parents fed their infants nonhuman milk from animal-shaped baby bottles, according to a recent study.
Archaeologists analyzed ancient spouted clay vessels discovered in the graves of Bronze and Iron Age infants in Bavaria and found traces of sheep, cow, and goat milk.
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