by Adriana Leite, Anne-France Maurer, Cláudia Relvado, Cláudia Umbelino & Ana Maria Silva
Motherhood in the past is key aspect to understand the complex and intimate relationship between women and infants. We present a mother-foetus case study from a Medieval Necropolis in Santarém. Carbon and nitrogen values of the mother (ẟ15N=10.9‰; ẟ13C=-15.2‰) and foetus (ẟ15N=12.5‰; ẟ13C=-19.9‰) suggest a shift in diet during pregnancy and the stress that the mother endured, therefore, affecting the foetus. The archaeological record lacks more studies targeting the hazards and difficulties of motherhood in the past, specifically in Medieval Portugal. This case is extremely relevant as it addresses these issues and provides insights into the mother-infant interaction.