Infants breastfed longer in medieval Finland, study finds

Breastfeeding continued into toddlerhood during the Middle Ages in Finland, but by the 1800s infants were typically weaned by age one, according to new archaeological research published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

The study, led by Tiina Väre and Ulla Nordfors, analysed dentin from the first molars of six individuals buried at the ruined church of St Michael in Pälkäne. The isotopic composition of the teeth, formed during early childhood, revealed changing dietary patterns over several centuries.