Nearly 5,000 years ago, in the southeastern corner of what is now Spain, a vast circular tomb carved into rock became the final resting place for more than 1,300 individuals. Known as Camino del Molino in Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, this site stands as Europe's largest known Copper Age collective burial. A groundbreaking new study published in the International Journal of Paleopathology has now shed light on the health challenges faced by the youngest members of this ancient community, revealing that respiratory infections—likely including tuberculosis—left their mark on the vast majority of the children interred there.

Europe's Premier Copper Age Burial Site

Discovered by chance in 2007 during construction work, Camino del Molino represents a monumental achievement in prehistoric funerary practices. The tomb, a large rock-cut chamber, was used over several centuries during the Chalcolithic or Copper Age period, roughly 3000 to 2000 BCE. Archaeologists have recovered the remains of men, women, and children, offering a rare window into the lives, deaths, and social structures of Copper Age societies in southeastern Iberia.

The site's scale sets it apart from other contemporary burials across Europe. While many Copper Age tombs contain dozens of individuals, Camino del Molino's collection exceeds 1,300, making it the largest of its kind on the continent. Previous research has explored aspects such as cranial surgery on one individual and dental wear patterns indicating craft specialisation, but the latest work focuses squarely on the health of non-adults.

The New Paleopathology Study

Led by Dr. Sonia Díaz-Navarro and colleagues, the study titled "Porous skeletal lesions and respiratory infection-related changes in Chalcolithic non-adults: A biocultural approach from Camino del Molino (southeastern Iberia)" appears in the 2026 volume of the International Journal of Paleopathology. The research team examined the skeletal remains of children and adolescents from the site, identifying porous lesions on bones that are strongly associated with respiratory infections.

These lesions, often found on the ribs, vertebrae, and cranial vaults, form when chronic or repeated infections trigger inflammation and new bone formation. In modern clinical contexts, such changes are frequently linked to conditions like tuberculosis, pneumonia, or other lower respiratory tract infections. The researchers applied a biocultural framework, integrating skeletal evidence with contextual data on diet, environment, and social organisation to interpret the findings.

The results are striking: nearly every child examined displayed evidence of these respiratory-related changes, with reports indicating involvement in approximately 92 percent of the subadult skeletons analysed. This points to a pervasive health crisis affecting the youngest members of the community over generations.

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

Key Findings on Childhood Health

The porous lesions observed are not isolated occurrences but appear in patterns consistent with prolonged or recurrent exposure to infectious agents. Many children showed multiple episodes of bone remodelling, suggesting they survived initial infections only to face subsequent ones. This pattern aligns with the known epidemiology of tuberculosis in pre-antibiotic eras, where the disease could smoulder for years, particularly in crowded or poorly ventilated living conditions.

Bioarchaeological analysis also considered nutritional status and potential co-morbidities. While the tomb's occupants likely had access to varied resources typical of Copper Age farming communities, the high burden of respiratory disease may have been exacerbated by factors such as seasonal crowding, smoke from hearths, or close contact with domesticated animals that could serve as reservoirs for pathogens.

The study emphasises that these were not one-off events but a recurring challenge. The co-occurrence of lesions with other skeletal indicators of stress underscores the cumulative toll on young bodies during a critical period of growth and development.

Implications for Paleopathology and Ancient Health

This research significantly advances understanding of infectious disease in prehistoric Europe. Tuberculosis is known from later periods and other regions, but evidence from the Copper Age in Iberia has been limited. The Camino del Molino findings push the documented presence of respiratory pathogens earlier and demonstrate their severe impact on children.

For the field of paleopathology, the study highlights the value of large, well-contextualised skeletal assemblages. Collective burials like this one allow researchers to move beyond individual case studies to population-level insights. It also reinforces the importance of distinguishing between age-related and disease-related skeletal changes, a methodological challenge addressed in recent paleopathology literature.

Beyond academia, the findings resonate with broader questions about human resilience and vulnerability. They illustrate how infectious diseases have shaped human populations long before modern medicine, offering parallels to contemporary public health challenges in understanding childhood respiratory illness.

Research Context and Collaborations

The project draws on expertise from Spanish institutions and international collaborators, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern bioarchaeology. Dr. Díaz-Navarro's team includes specialists in anthropology, pathology, and archaeology, ensuring a comprehensive analysis. The work builds on earlier excavations and studies at the site led by researchers such as Joaquín Lomba Maurandi.

Funding and support for such research often come through European academic networks and national heritage bodies in Spain. The publication in a leading peer-reviewed journal like the International Journal of Paleopathology ensures rigorous scrutiny and wide dissemination within the scholarly community.

Photo by Bioscience Image Library by Fayette Reynolds on Unsplash

Future Directions and Broader Impact

The Camino del Molino study opens avenues for further investigation, including ancient DNA analysis to identify specific pathogens and isotopic studies to trace diet and mobility. Comparative research with other Copper Age sites across Europe could reveal regional variations in disease prevalence.

In higher education, this research exemplifies the value of investing in archaeological science programmes. Universities across Europe continue to expand training in paleopathology, bioarchaeology, and ancient genomics, preparing the next generation of researchers to tackle these complex questions.

For academics and administrators, the work underscores the ongoing relevance of humanities and social science research in addressing timeless issues of health, society, and environment. It also highlights opportunities for cross-border collaborations that strengthen European research capacity.

Perspectives from the Field

Experts in the discipline note that large-scale studies like this one are essential for moving paleopathology from descriptive to explanatory science. The high prevalence of respiratory lesions in children at Camino del Molino challenges assumptions about prehistoric health and emphasises the role of infectious disease in demographic patterns.

University-based research groups are increasingly incorporating such findings into teaching curricula, using them to illustrate the integration of biological and cultural data. This approach enriches student understanding of how ancient societies responded to health crises.