Ephesus: Two Infants Found Carefully Buried in an Ancient Roman Latrine Channel

A Moving Archaeological Discovery in the Ruins of Ephesus

More than 1,200 years ago, two very young children were gently laid to rest in an ancient, abandoned Roman sewer at the historic site of Ephesus in Turkey. While the location of this burial may seem surprising at first glance, archaeological analyses reveal that these children were cherished and cared for with deep devotion—far from any negligent abandonment.

The cist-style burial, carefully constructed and lined with tiles and stones, was hidden within an ancient Roman odeon, in the immediate vicinity of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Inside lay the remains of two infants who had likely never seen the light of day, as reported in a study published in the journal Childhood in the Past.

According to the researchers, these infants may have been twins. Beyond this characteristic—already rare for the period—archaeologists identified a tiny supernumerary cervical vertebra in one of them, marking only the second such case ever recorded worldwide in an infant from an archaeological site.

From a Roman concert hall to unused latrines

To understand the context of this burial, we must trace the history of the building that housed it. The Odeon of Ephesus, a Roman structure designed for musical performances and public speeches, was built nearly 2,000 years ago, during the 1st century CE. About a century later, public restrooms were added for the convenience of the audience.

Following a devastating fire, this cultural complex lost its original function. The site was then gradually abandoned by the local population, before occasionally serving as a dumping ground for butchery waste and broken pottery shards.

However, when the two infants were buried there between the 8th and 9th centuries CE, during the Middle Byzantine period, the latrine drainage channel had not been used for centuries. Despite the passage of time, its stone structure had remained perfectly intact and provided a sheltered and discreet resting place.

A funeral ritual marked by meticulous care and affection

The disused latrine channel provided a sheltered and hidden space where the two bodies were laid side by side with great care. Archaeologist Lilli Zabrana of the Austrian Archaeological Institute emphasizes the intentional nature of the act: “As soon as we discovered the burial site, it was clear that this was not simply a matter of disposing of the infants’ bodies, but rather a very meticulous preparation of a final resting place.”

Those who carried out the burial had first placed the babies on a bed of soil taken from elsewhere and brought specifically to the site. Caroline Partiot, a bioarchaeologist at the Austrian Archaeological Institute and lead author of the study, notes that the children were “likely wrapped in shrouds, which attests to the special care taken in their funeral rites.”

Osteological measurements of the length of their arm bones indicate that these two babies were born approximately six weeks premature. It is highly likely that they were stillborn or survived only a few moments after birth.

An Extra 5-Millimeter Rib and the Mystery of the Twins

Careful analysis of the skeletons revealed a previously unknown anatomical feature: a supernumerary cervical rib measuring barely 5 millimeters in length, attached to a vertebra in the neck. Although such an anomaly may be completely asymptomatic in an adult, in newborns it is often associated with severe genetic or developmental disorders, tumors, or stillbirth.

Based on their identical size, similar bone development, and the fact that they were buried at the same time, scientists believe that these two babies were most likely twins. In the ancient world, a twin pregnancy posed a considerable risk to both the mother and the children, frequently associated with premature births or superstitions surrounding bad omens.

These two children thus faced immense vulnerabilities from the moment of their conception. Their joint presence in the same tomb, however, confirms a deep family bond despite the tragic difficulties surrounding their birth.

Byzantine Religious Prohibitions and the Spiritual Resonance of Artemis

The burial site’s location outside a traditional cemetery can be explained by the strict rules of Byzantine society in Ephesus. At that time, only individuals who had received the sacrament of baptism were permitted to be buried in consecrated ground. However, baptism was generally administered only several weeks after birth—a requirement these premature infants were never able to meet.

Faced with this canonical impossibility, the proximity of the Temple of Artemis may have played a fundamental role. The Odeon was, in fact, located within the historic boundaries of the ancient goddess’s sanctuary. Lilli Zabrana wonders: “Did the site of the ancient sanctuary of Artemis still hold spiritual significance for the twins’ parents at that time?”

Although pagan worship had long since given way to Byzantine Christianity, the protective and sacred aura associated with this iconic site may have offered the grieving parents symbolic comfort for the repose of their children.

A poignant testament to compassion across the centuries

Due to its unique location and protection from damage, this tomb has remained undisturbed for over a millennium. Infant burials dating from this period remain extremely rare in the archaeological record, and those of twins are even rarer.

For the study’s authors, this discovery sheds valuable human insight into social behaviors during the Byzantine Middle Ages. Caroline Partiot notes: “This discovery shows us just how close ancient populations actually were to us, and that they cared for vulnerable individuals, contrary to many common misconceptions.”

The detailed results of this research were published by Caroline Partiot and her team in the study titled “Peace in Unexpected Places: The Middle Byzantine Burial of Two Perinates, Possibly Twins, in a Latrine Canal of the Odeion in the Artemision of Ephesos,” available via its DOI: 10.1080/17585716.2026.2682804.

According to the source: phys.org

Ephesus: Two Infants Found Carefully Buried in an Ancient Roman Latrine Channel