Child murder in the Early Bronze Age: proteomic sex identification of a cold case from Schleinbach, Austria.

ABSTRACT: The identification of sex-specific peptides in human tooth enamel by nanoflow liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) represents a quantum leap for the study of childhood and social relations more generally. Determining sex-related differences in prehistoric child rearing and mortality has been hampered by the insufficient accuracy in determining the biological sex of juveniles. We conducted mass spectrometric analysis to identify sex-specific peptides in the dental enamel of a child from a settlement pit of the Early Bronze Age settlement of Schleinbach, Austria (c. 1950-1850 bc). Four perimortal impression fractures on the skull of a 5-6-year-old child indicate an intentional killing, with a co-buried loom weight as possible murder weapon. Proteomic analysis, conduc

SUBMITTER: Rebay-Salisbury K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7584537 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature