Neolithic Baby Carriers: The Extraordinary Discovery at the Krauschwitz Necropolis

Forget ergonomic backpacks and organic muslin swaddling clothes: in the Neolithic era, the most fashionable mothers carried their newborns in bags decorated with hundreds of dog and wolf teeth , sewn individually like sacred beads. This incredible discovery comes straight from Krauschwitz , Germany , where recent archaeological excavations have uncovered a necropolis dating back over 5,000 years.

These “ baby-carrying bags ”, as archaeologists call them, were anything but common objects: a symbol of status, motherhood and social belonging , they were buried with young women, often pregnant or newly mothered, and indicate that already in the third millennium BC there existed a profound and ritual way of saying “this child is mine”.

A Neolithic necropolis reveals the intimate side of motherhood

The discovery was made along the route of the future SuedOstLink high-capacity power line, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt . Before construction, as is standard practice, archaeological excavations began. And beneath what today appears to be a simple field, an ancient ritual landscape was revealed: a true prehistoric necropolis with burial mounds, "houses of the dead," and over 30 burials, 15 of which belong to the Cord Ware culture.

In particular, three female graves contained previously unseen objects: trapezoidal bags that had disappeared over time, but whose embroidery had survived. How? Thanks to barnacles pierced and sewn onto the fabric, which had remained intact for millennia. Some bags also contained the bones of newborns or fetuses , suggesting they may have been primitive baby slings .

The arrangement of the pouches on the bodies, always in front, near the abdomen, reinforces this interpretation. These weren't just any pouches: to make one, up to 350 dog teeth were needed, sewn in a "tile" style, in overlapping layers. The dogs? A medium-sized breed similar to today's Munsterländer, probably bred specifically and sacrificed as puppies to obtain the best teeth.

Sacred fashion, motherhood and status even in the Neolithic

These bags were not merely functional. They were powerful cultural symbols , reserved for elite, young, fertile women , likely with an important social role. The fact that many contained infant remains and were not passed on to others (none have been found reused) suggests they were personal possessions, deeply tied to motherhood and identity.

Some were even adorned with wolf teeth sewn onto the belts, perhaps for protection or status. A true mix of fashion, ritual, and spirituality. There were also decorative elements suggesting intricate embroidery, precious fabrics, and artisanal care , even sequins made from dog molars . In short, a bag like this must have turned a lot of heads (literally).

One of the most touching cases was discovered in nearby Nessa , less than 2 km from Krauschwitz: a young, upper-class woman was found with one of these bags containing the bones of a newborn baby , likely her son. A scene frozen in time, speaking of love, mourning, and identity.