Infant burials related to inhabited areas in Rome. New results for understanding socio-cultural structures of an ancient community
In antiquity, children who died during the prenatal period or in the first years of life represent a very high percentage of the deceased population. However, according to archaeological evidence, the record of infant burials found in cemeteries is low and cannot be considered completely representative of neo-natal and infant mortality. The underestimation of children in the necropoleis indicates that a specific funeral treatment probably occurred for infants.