Archaeologists working in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, have uncovered rare prehistoric tooth-adorned bags in female graves, offering a vivid glimpse into the social roles, status, and personal lives of women from nearly 5,000 years ago.
The finds were made near the village of Krauschwitz during excavations along the planned 170-kilometer (106-mile) SuedOstLink transmission route, led by the State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt in partnership with grid operator 50Hertz.
The region, historically rich and densely settled, continues to yield important insights into long-standing burial traditions across Central Germany.
Grave goods reveal elaborate pouch designs
The bags themselves have long since decayed, but archaeologists identified their presence through hundreds of pierced dog teeth left behind in the graves. The teeth were arranged in overlapping rows like roof tiles, sewn onto the front of each pouch.
A fully decorated bag measured roughly 30 by 20 centimeters (12 by 8 inches) and could contain up to 350 teeth. The dogs were medium-sized, similar to today’s Small Münsterländer, and may have been bred specifically for this purpose.
In some cases, repairs to the pouches were made with fox teeth or carved bone substitutes. Belts adorned with wolf teeth were likely used to fasten the bags, which were worn on the front of the body during life. Their placement in the graves supports this interpretation, suggesting the bags were part of everyday attire or held ceremonial value.
Infant remains support the baby-carrier theory
In several cases, the decorated pouches were found alongside or even containing the bones of newborns or fetuses. One grave included a pregnant woman buried with such a pouch, which held the remains of what is believed to be her unborn child. A fine textile, possibly a scarf or wrap embroidered with molars, may have shielded the infant’s limbs and head.
Archaeologists believe the bags served a dual function—as cradle bags for carrying infants and as status symbols. Their intricate design and labor-intensive production suggest they were personal items, likely reserved for women of high rank. About 20 percent of female graves in Krauschwitz featured such bags.
A similar find in nearby Nessa contained a woman buried with a pouch and fetal remains, reinforcing the practice’s emotional and social significance.
Burials span cultures and centuries
The site’s significance extends beyond a single era. The hilltop near Krauschwitz had been used as a sacred burial ground for thousands of years. Five Neolithic burial mounds from the Baalberge Culture, dating to around 4000 BCE, were identified nearby.
These included trapezoidal wooden structures, known as “houses of the dead,” once covered with loess to form prominent mounds in the landscape. More than 15 such structures have been uncovered along the SuedOstLink route.
Centuries later, people of the Corded Ware Culture (2800–2200 BCE) returned to the same site. Their burial customs followed consistent patterns: men were placed on their right sides, women on their left, both facing south.
Grave goods included ceramic vessels, axes for men, and jewelry or decorated textiles for women, including the tooth-covered pouches now drawing such attention.
Preservation and progress move forward together
To protect the fragile finds, the graves are being removed in large soil blocks and transferred to conservation labs for detailed study. A 20-member archaeological team is currently working at the site, and excavations are expected to be completed by the end of July.
The project highlights how careful coordination between infrastructure development and heritage preservation can uncover deeply personal stories from the distant past.
As construction of the SuedOstLink line progresses, the discoveries near Krauschwitz offer a powerful reminder of the lives, losses, and identities that once shaped this ancient landscape.
