Archaeologists have found that baby carriers existed 10,000 years ago

Specialists from the University of Montreal found out that baby carriers existed 10,000 years ago. They examined the burial of a two-month-old girl found in Europe and came to the conclusion that the child was buried in a sling scarf decorated with shell beads. Scientific work published in Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory.

The burial of a child was discovered in 2017 in the Italian cave of Arma Veyran. Scientists have named the girl Niv. The cloth in the grave was not preserved, but the researchers concluded that the child was carried in life in a sling decorated with shells. This is indicated by holes in the shells, which may have been sewn onto cloth, fur, or hide. In addition, the position in which the remains were located indicates that the girl was buried in a sling, and not in a blanket or diaper.

According to the results of the study of jewelry, scientists came to the conclusion that it took many hours of work to make it and it was very valuable. The decision to put such an ornament in the grave gives reason to believe that the girl was very loved in the community. At the same time, the shells were quite worn out; apparently, they were used even before the birth of the child. Perhaps they were inherited.

Scientists also suggested that shell beads had the function of amulets. They were buried with the girl due to the fact that they could not “protect” her during her lifetime, so it was not worth giving them to other children.