COFFIN BIRTH
Rare skeleton of woman who ‘gave birth’ in her grave uncovered in ghastly medieval coffin – revealing how gases forced foetus out of body
A hole was drilled into the woman's skull before she died
THE heartbreaking remains of a young woman who "gave birth"; in her grave have been discovered in a medieval coffin in Italy.
The woman's skeleton was found with the remains of a foetus between her thighs, as well as a hole drilled into her skull as part of a gruesome medical treatment.
4
Scientists believe she died 1,300 years ago towards the end of her pregnancy.
As the woman's body decayed, the buildup of gases forced her lifeless child out of her body in a rare phenomenon known as "coffin birth".
"What happens is the pressure from the gas builds up, and the dead foetus is delivered through a rupture," .
"It basically blows a hole through the uterus into the vagina.";
4
Experts from the University of Ferrara and University of Bologna found the woman's grave in northern Italy.
They believe she died aged between 25 and 35, around the 7th and 8th Centuries AD.
Found face up in a brick coffin, the site suggests the woman was given a proper burial.
It was only when scientists looked closer that they uncovered the grisly nature of her passing.
The bones of a foetus were found between her legs.
Based on the length of its femur, the baby was aged about 38 weeks old when its mother died.
The average pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks, meaning the woman was extremely close to giving birth when she passed.
Her child died long before it was pushed from her body.
4
Its remains suggest it was only partially expelled – with the head and torso breaching the vagina while the legs remained inside the pelvic cavity.
Scientists also discovered a small hole in the woman's skull that they think was drilled with a cutting tool.
This is evidence of trepanation - a brutal ancient medical practice used to treat a variety of illnesses.
The hole shows evidence of healing, meaning the woman survived for several weeks after the surgery.
Unfortunately, the procedure – which scientists think was an attempt to cure a pregnancy disorder like preeclampsia – may have ultimately doomed the woman.
"Some of the most common manifestations of this disease are high fever, convulsions, consistent frontal and occipital cephalalgia, high intracranial pressure, cerebral hemorrhage," scientists wrote in their study.
"All these symptoms, from prehistory to the 20th century, used to be treated with trepanation."
The research was published in .
4
TOP STORIES IN SCIENCE
If you enjoyed this story, you might also like:
‘First beer brewed in the UK’ from 400BC unearthed by archaeologists during widening of the A14.
Archaeologists searching for Ark of the Covenant site discover treasure trove of ancient artefacts and bones from animal sacrifices.
Incredible skeleton found of man decapitated by falling rock in Pompeii as he tried to flee Vesuvius eruption.
How do you think the woman died? Let us know in the comments!
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.