An elaborate early Mesolithic burial of an infant girl who lived just 40 to 50 days is the oldest identified female infant burial in Europe. Nicknamed "Neve", she was discovered in 2017 in the Arma Veirana cave in the pre-Alps of northwestern Italy, adorned with over 60 pierced shell beads in articulated lines, 4 shell pendants, and the talon of an eagle owl. Many of the ornaments exhibited wear demonstrating they were passed down to the child from group members.
     Few recorded burials are known from this period, and infant burials are especially rare. Radiocarbon dating confirmed she died about 10,000 years ago. Using ancient DNA, protein analysis, and microscopic examination of her teeth, the study team identified the child's genetic lineage, sex, age at death, and determined that stress had briefly halted the growth of her teeth 47 days and 28 days before birth.
     Layers near the mouth of the cave contained Mousterian tools over 50,000 years old typically associated with Neandertals in Europe, along with the cut-marked bones of wild boars and elk, and bits of charred fat. Other finds include much more recent stone tools likely transported from deeper inside the cave.

Edited from PhysORG, Gizmodo (14 December 2021)