Ancient German graves reveal dog tooth bags used by mothers

Recent archaeological excavations in Germany have unearthed remarkable bags adorned with hundreds of dog teeth dating back 4,500 years, offering unprecedented insights into the fashions and social status of women from the Neolithic Corded Ware culture, with evidence suggesting these ornate pouches may have served as prestigious baby carriers for elite mothers.

Corded Ware Culture Burial Practices

The Corded Ware culture, spanning from Alsace to Ukraine and from southern Scandinavia to the Alps (2800-2200 BC), was distinguished by remarkably standardized burial practices across vast territories. These burials typically featured single, sex-differentiated inhumations with strictly gendered positioning: men were placed semi-flexed on their right side with heads facing west, while women were positioned on their left side with heads toward the east, both facing south. Most graves were originally covered by burial mounds (barrows), though many have been destroyed by centuries of agricultural activity.pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih+4

Despite this apparent uniformity, archaeological evidence reveals significant regional variations and flexibility in funeral customs. The culture primarily practiced inhumation, though cremation burials have been found in some regions, particularly increasing in frequency toward the Carpathian Basin. Grave goods typically included cord-ornamented beakers and amphorae, shaft-hole battle axes, and other gender-specific items. Recent research suggests these burial practices weren't simply rigid traditions but rather negotiated expressions of identity, with men's burials showing greater similarity across regions compared to women's more locally distinctive practices. This intriguing pattern suggests male burial practices served as the primary vector for cultural information exchange between Corded Ware communities, despite evidence that women showed greater physical mobility in life according to isotope analyses.archaeologydataservice+4

archaeological excavations in Germany

The archaeological excavations that revealed the dog-tooth adorned bags were conducted near Krauschwitz, Germany, as part of the extensive SuedOstLink power transmission line project spanning 170 kilometers (105 miles) through Saxony-Anhalt. Led by the State Office for Monument Preservation and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt in partnership with grid operator 50Hertz, these excavations have uncovered a rich cultural landscape dating back millennia.ancient-origins+2

The site has yielded remarkable discoveries beyond the tooth-adorned bags, including five 6,000-year-old burial mounds from the Baalberg culture and various graves from different time periods. Similar historical finds have been documented near Leipzig, where a grave dated between 2,500 and 2,200 B.C. contained over a hundred dog teeth arranged in patterns suggesting an ancient purse. The region continues to provide valuable archaeological insights, with excavations scheduled to continue through July 2025, as archaeologists methodically document these rare Neolithic artifacts that offer unprecedented windows into prehistoric social structures and daily life.thehistoryblog+4

Neolithic Elite Baby Carriers

Archaeological evidence suggests the dog tooth-decorated bags discovered in Germany functioned as sophisticated baby carriers used by elite women in Neolithic society. These carriers were designed with the infant's needs in mind—the pouch-shaped bags were worn on the front of the body, allowing a baby's head, arms, and legs to protrude while being protected with fine cloth accessories including a 20-centimeter-wide scarf embroidered with sequins and dog molars. Their presence in approximately 20% of women's burials, often containing infant remains, indicates they were personal, non-inheritable possessions reserved for a specific elite social class.ancient-origins+2

The concept of decorated baby carriers extends beyond the Corded Ware culture, with evidence of similar childcare solutions dating back 10,000 years. At the prehistoric site of Arma Veirana in Liguria, Italy, researchers discovered the burial of a 40-50 day old infant with ornaments consisting of over 70 perforated shells that showed signs of long-term use before being given to the child. These findings challenge previous assumptions about prehistoric childcare practices, revealing sophisticated solutions for infant transportation among mobile populations and demonstrating that even in ancient times, baby carriers served both practical and ceremonial functions while signifying social status.wikipedia+1