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In 2015, archaeologists in Nieuwegein, central Netherlands, unearthed a poignant Stone Age burial site dating back approximately 6,000 years. The grave contained the remains of a young woman, aged between 20 and 30, with her right arm tenderly cradling an infant estimated to be between newborn and six months old. This discovery marks the oldest known infant burial in the Netherlands.)Initially, the presence of the infant went unnoticed during excavation. It was only upon detailed analysis at the RAAP Archaeological Consultancy in Leiden that researchers observed the woman's atypically bent arm. Further examination revealed tiny bone fragments, including a small jaw with emerging milk teeth, nestled in the crook of her arm. Such delicate remains are rarely preserved, but the waterlogged conditions of the burial site, with its thick layers of clay and peat, safeguarded these fragile bones for millennia.)The site in Nieuwegein has proven to be a treasure trove for archaeologists, yielding approximately 136,000 well-preserved artifacts attributed to the Swifterbant culture—a Neolithic people who transitioned from hunter-gathering to cattle farming along the riverbanks and wetlands of what is now the Netherlands between 5300 and 3400 B.C.)This exceptional find offers a rare glimpse into the burial practices of the Swifterbant people, about which little is currently known. DNA analysis is planned to confirm the relationship between the woman and the infant, as well as to determine the baby's sex. Isotope analysis will also be conducted to ascertain whether the woman was native to the area or had migrated there.)The discovery not only provides insight into ancient burial customs but also evokes a timeless human connection. As project leader Helle Molthof remarked, "It really makes an impression when you find little baby teeth buried in clay for 6,000 years and see how similar they are to all those milk teeth that are kept in matchboxes by parents everywhere.")