Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,500-year-old mass grave of infants at Azekah, Israel, shedding light on burial practices in the ancient Near East. The findings were published last Friday, more than a decade after the remains were first excavated.
The discovery was made inside a disused cistern at the hilltop site, located southwest of Jerusalem. Researchers found the remains of up to 89 individuals. Most were very young children. More than 70 percent were under the age of two.
The cistern had been abandoned for centuries. Over time, it filled with soil, debris, and broken pottery. Such layers are typical in ancient water systems. But excavations between 2012 and 2014 revealed a different use.
Analysis showed the structure had been repurposed as a burial site. The remains were fragile and closely packed. They were found alongside simple objects, including pottery, beads, earrings, and rings. These items suggest modest burial practices.
The findings were reported last Friday by a team of Israeli and German researchers in the journal Palestine Exploration Quarterly.
Burials likely occurred over time
Evidence suggests the children were not buried all at once. Instead, the cistern appears to have been used repeatedly over several decades during the Persian Period.
Researchers found no clear signs of violence on the bones. There is also no strong evidence of a disease outbreak. While not all causes of death leave marks on skeletons, the pattern does not support a single tragic event.
Instead, experts believe the site was used for infants who died of natural causes. Infant mortality was high in ancient societies, especially before weaning.
Hila May of Tel Aviv University said only a small number of individuals appeared to be older children or young adults.
Cistern reflects changing use of the site
The cistern was originally built for water storage during earlier periods. It remained in use through the Bronze and Iron Ages. At the bottom, archaeologists found storage jars dating to the end of the Iron Age.
This suggests the structure fell out of use around the time of the Babylonian conquest of Judah, when major towns in the region were destroyed.
After a period of abandonment, Azekah was resettled under Persian rule. It was then that the cistern was reused as a burial place.
Burial practices shaped by social beliefs
Researchers say the discovery helps explain a long-standing mystery. Infant remains are rarely found in formal graves from this period.
In earlier times, children were often buried in jars beneath family homes. This custom disappeared in later periods. Infants also do not appear in standard family tombs.
Scholars believe this reflects changing social attitudes. Children who had not yet been weaned may not have been viewed as fully independent individuals.
Ancient texts support this idea. Parts of the Bible describe weaning as an important milestone. In one account, Abraham holds a feast when his son Isaac is weaned. In another, Hannah delays dedicating her son Samuel until he is weaned.
Part of a wider pattern
Similar burial sites have been found elsewhere. On the Greek island of Astypalaia, archaeologists uncovered a cemetery containing more than 2,400 infant burials. Comparable discoveries have also been made in Athens and Messene.
Researchers say these findings point to a broader pattern. Many ancient societies appear to have buried infants separately, especially those who died before weaning.
Experts stress that this does not mean families lacked emotional bonds. Parents likely mourned their children. The burial practices reflect cultural norms shaped by high infant mortality.
The discovery at Azekah provides a rare and detailed view of these customs. It shows how ancient communities responded to early loss and how beliefs influenced burial practices.
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