Pregnancy remains one of the most methodologically elusive aspects of past human life, as gestation rarely leaves clear or direct traces in the archaeological record. This poster critically examines how pregnancy and perinatal death may be identified in early medieval Bohemia through an integrated bioarchaeological framework. The study draws on material from five burial grounds representing diverse social and spatial contexts, including peripheral rural cemeteries (Přezletice, Zeleneč, Dobrovíz), a central elite site (Prague Castle – Jízdárna), and a cemetery in its hinterland (Prague–Triangl).
A key focus is placed on the widespread but often untested assumption that adult females buried with foetal or neonatal remains are necessarily the biological mothers of these individuals. By combining osteological assessment with ancient DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating, we critically evaluate this assumption and explore a broader range of possible relationships, including non-biological kinship, social motherhood, caregiving roles, or alternative funerary practices. The poster further addresses differential preservation and recovery of perinatal remains across sites, highlighting the role of taphonomy, burial customs, and excavation methodology in shaping the archaeological visibility of pregnancy. By questioning normative interpretative frameworks, this contribution advocates for a more nuanced and reflexive approach to pregnancy, motherhood, and reproductive vulnerability in early medieval societies.

First Author: Katarína Kapustka

Co-Authors: Eliška Zazvonilová , Nikola Koštová, Drahomíra Frolíková, Jan Frolík

Keywords:
Early Middle Ages
Czechia
Pregnancy
Bioarchaeology
DNA Analysis