Scientists announced that discovered a way to detect hormones associated with pregnancy in humans remains up to 1,000 years old, a discovery that could allow archaeologists to they determine whether a woman was pregnant or had recently given birth at the time of her death.

The study, published Oct. 2 in the journal Journal of Archaeological Scienceshowed that estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can be detected in the bones and teeth of ancient skeletons.

The researcher Aimée Barlow from the University of Sheffield stated that “we found a kind of record of hormones in skeletons and teeth that has never been recorded before». This is also the first time progesterone has been detected in human bone.

The scientists used the method ELISAa well-known technique for identifying proteins and peptides, to measure the levels of the three hormones in samples from seven women and three men who lived from the 1st to the 19th century. High levels of progesterone in dental structures, the presence of estrogen in bone, and the absence of testosterone were considered indications of pregnancy at death.

The study demonstrates the applicability of ELISA to investigate the reproductive history of ancient populations, paving the way for future analyzes that could reveal age at first pregnancy, potential miscarriages or birth intervals in historical societies where written records do not exist.

OR Barlow stresses that further research is needed to determine exactly how hormones are incorporated and maintained in bones and teeth, and how they are affected by burial conditions.

THE Nicholas Lemosprofessor of forensic science at Queen Mary University of Londoncalled the results “groundbreaking,” noting, however, that the sample was small and that the method needs further validation. “This is a proof of concept, not yet a routine diagnostic tool“, he said.

THE Alexander Comninos, professor of endocrinology at Imperial College Londonadded that the research is “fascinating” and may provide new insight into past reproductive trends — and, perhaps, “a look into the future».