Prehistoric baby bottles are a close connection to parents of the past

Breast milk has been integral to infant care across history and cultures, but there is much variation as to when new foods are introduced to a child. — uwe umstätter/imageBroker/dpa

The vessels are small and ceramic. Some resemble tiny teapots, others look like small pipes, and a few are sculpted into whimsical animal shapes with a little spout on the backside.

When they were discovered in ancient cemeteries scattered across Europe, some archaeologists wondered if they were used to feed the sick or the elderly. But because they were often buried in graves alongside infants, most experts agreed that the vessels likely served a different purpose entirely: