Infant Burials at Ullastret Reveal Insights into Iberian Iron Age Mortuary Practices: Natural Deaths Predominate, Challenging Ritual Sacrifice Theories

A recent study on infant burials at the Iberian settlement of Ullastret in Girona, dating back to the Iron Age, provides new insights into the funerary practices of the time. Conducted by researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya in Ullastret (MAC-Ullastret), the research re-evaluated existing archaeological documentation and skeletal remains, employing advanced techniques in morphology, morphometry, genetics, and dental histology. The study analyzed the remains of 15 infants from the Illa d'en Reixac and Puig de Sant Andreu areas of the site. The findings indicate that the majority of infant deaths were likely due to natural causes, with the distribution of deaths by age and sex resembling natural infant mortality patterns in developing populations. This challenges previous hypotheses suggesting sex-based selection or ritualistic sacrifices. The burials, primarily simple pits within domestic spaces, suggest a family-centered ritual, with the community wanting the infants to remain within their homes. The study contributes to a more contextualized understanding of infant burials and offers new perspectives on the funerary practices and living conditions of the Iberian community at Ullastret.