Ancient DNA tells the story of an infant who lived in Italy 17,000 years ago

Ancient DNA analysis has revealed a detailed picture of the life of an infant who died 17,000 years ago in southern Italy, probably due to a congenital heart disease.

In 1998, researchers discovered the skeletal remains of a child carefully placed beneath a rock slab on the floor of the Grotta delle Mura cave in southern Italy’s Puglia region. Alessandra Modi from the University of Florence said this was the only burial in the cave, which also contained traces of daily life and human habitation.