Roman Antiquity has left behind an exceptional architectural and cultural heritage, but human vestiges, especially those of infants, are rarer and often poorly documented. However, the discovery of twins in Tragurium, the current Trogir in Croatia, sheds light on the funeral practices and the living conditions of the youngest in Roman society.
Twins with alarming signs of malnutrition
Analysis of the bones of tragurium twins revealed disturbing anomalies. Indeed, they undoubtedly testify to serious nutritional deficiencies from their development in utero. The researchers observed bone alterations characteristic of scurvy and richitism. These two diseases are linked to essential vitamins: vitamin C for scurvy and vitamin D for rissitism. They lead to bone fragility, deformations of the skeleton and an increased vulnerability to infections.
These diseases do not only affect infants, they are often reflecting the mother's state of health. Thus, during pregnancy, the fetus depends entirely on maternal nutritional intake. Insufficient or unbalanced diet directly impacts the baby's bone and immune development. In the case of tragurium twins, the simultaneous presence of these two conditions suggests that their mother was suffering from serious food deficiencies before and during pregnancy.
To better understand the origin of this malnutrition, the researchers carried out an isotopic analysis of the bones of infants. This technique makes it possible to identify the food consumed over the long term. The results indicate that the mother had a diet typical of the Roman period. It consisted of wheat, barley and fish. Certainly these foods provide a nutritional base. However, they can be insufficient in vitamin D if sun exposure is reduced, and vitamin C if fresh fruits and vegetables are rare.
This discovery highlights the nutritional challenges faced by Roman populations, especially pregnant women. It also highlights the increased risks for infants in an environment where food resources could be limited or ill -balanced.
Twins exposed to lead in ancient Rome
In addition, the possible exposure of the lead tragurium twins questions. This heavy metal was omnipresent in the daily life of the Romans. Used in water pipes, food containers, kitchen utensils and even certain cosmetics, lead directly contaminated food and drinking water. Analyzes carried out on other ancient populations have shown that lead concentrations in the blood of the Romans were up to 100 times greater than those of pre -industrial societies.
This level of chronic lead exposure remained particularly worrying for pregnant women. Many modern studies have shown that lead crosses the placenta and accumulates in the body of the fetus. Even at low doses, it disrupts neurological development, weakens the immune system. In addition, it can aggravate metabolic disorders such as richitism. In infants, early poisoning can cause growth delay, cognitive disorders and increased sensitivity to infections.
Plan of the Dragulin site (2016) and distribution of age groups, twins are in the black circle. (A) drawing and (b) photo of the excavation with the position of the two children. © L. Paraman / TCM
In the case of tragurium twins, although their bones have not yet been analyzed to detect the presence of lead, the signs of malnutrition and metabolic diseases observed are part of a table compatible with toxic exposure. The high prevalence of similar pathologies in the community suggests a broader environmental problem.
If future analyzes confirm the presence of lead in their bones, this would reinforce the hypothesis that this contamination contributed to the fragility of Roman infants. It could partly explain the high infant mortality rates observed at the time.
A window on Roman funeral rites
The discovery of the burial of tragurium twins surprised archaeologists in another way. For what ? Because it questions a widespread idea: the supposed indifference of the Romans in the face of infantile death. In antiquity, infant mortality was extremely high, with an estimated rate at 30 % before the age of one year. Many deceased infants were not buried in conventional cemeteries. We were rather satisfied with more informal places, as under houses or in amphorae.
However, here, the twins were carefully arranged face to face in a common pit. This unusual gesture reflects special attention. This staging could indicate that their death had a strong emotional impact on their family. Their simultaneous burial suggests that they have succumbed to the same cause, probably a neonatal complication or a disease. The absence of funeral objects is also intriguing. Roman infants were sometimes accompanied by amulets or figurines, supposed to protect them in the beyond.
The Dragulin site has delivered several other infant burials, some inside large terracotta jars. However, the presence of these twins in a grave dug on the ground could reflect a special status. Perhaps their rare condition of twins, infrequent in archaeological archives, gave them symbolic importance, especially through the founding myth of Romulus and Rémus. This burial therefore constitutes a precious window on the beliefs and emotions of the Romans in the face of the loss of a child, far from a simple pragmatic management of infantile mortality.
Source: Anna Osterholtz, Mario Novak, et al., “Death and Burial of A Set of Fraternal Twins from Tragurium: An Osteobiographical Approach”. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 62, April 2025, 105071.
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