What bones teach us about the past – and ourselves

Originally, Moles studied ancient history and archaeology. During her studies, she became particularly fascinated by the burial practices of past societies. 'Burials capture a small moment in the lives of those who came before us,' she explains. 'What was important to someone often went into the grave with them.' Initially, she considered pursuing forensic work after her studies, but she was ultimately drawn back to archaeology, captivated by the insights it offers into past lives. 'That’s what I love about archaeology,' she says. 'It’s not about grand historical narratives. It’s the lives of real people that I study.'

Lives written in bones

These personal stories are etched into the bones themselves. 'Everything we do in life leaves an imprint on the bone,' Moles explains. 'For example, I’ve seen cases where there’s a lot of bone growth, especially in the spine and joints—places that move a lot with physical activity. If you see that in a young person, you know they’ve had a hard physical life. Or we can tell if someone frequently used a bow and arrow by comparing the thickness of their arm bones. You can even see which injuries were active at the time of death and which had already healed. Bones reveal an entire timeline of someone’s life.'

Teeth tell a life story

One type of bone that holds an especially rich story is teeth. 'Teeth tell us about the health cycle of an individual, from early childhood to death. Analyzing teeth provides valuable information about social status, diet, health, and lifestyle. For example, we find a grave with no offerings but very poor teeth. This might indicate a simple diet of a poor person, perhaps just bread and porridge, which can cause cavities.' However, bad teeth don’t always mean a poor life. 'When the Romans entered ancient Greece, they introduced access to different foods. Sugared wine, for example, became a luxury product for the wealthy, but it caused significant dental decay.In that period, we see richly furnished graves where the skeletons nonetheless show poor dental health.'

By combining burial findings with skeletal evidence, researchers can learn a great deal about the lives and social status of individuals. Advances in DNA technology and isotopic analysis (studying chemical elements in skeletal remains) now make it possible to uncover family ties and dietary patterns. Collaboration with researchers from other disciplines makes the stories behind human remains increasingly detailed.

New insights on gender roles

These new findings also challenge old assumptions, Moles says. 'Historically, a skeleton in a grave with a sword was automatically assumed to be male. A skeleton with a loom weight was classified as female. But osteoarcheological research has shown us that women could be buried with weapons, and men with intricate jewelry. These discoveries are changing what we think we know about gender roles in the past.'

Giving a voice to the voiceless

For her future research, Moles aims to focus on the stories of marginalized groups—women, children, enslaved people, and the elderly. These groups are often absent from the grand historical narratives. 'History tells the stories of powerful leaders, who are almost always men,' she says. For Moles, giving a voice to the voiceless is a matter of fairness. 'These people faced malnutrition, disease, and hardships. Their stories deserve to be told, not just for their sake, but because they offer lessons about inequality in today’s society.'

Ethical considerations

In November 2024, Moles received the KNAW Early Career Award, which recognizes young researchers conducting innovative and original work. She plans to use the prize money to continue her research on marginalized groups, working with her students in the lab. Moles is deeply aware of the ethical issues surrounding the study of human remains, especially when it involves Indigenous groups and repatriation. 'It’s essential to handle these remains with care and respect. These were real people with real lives, and we have a responsibility to tell their stories thoughtfully.'

As Moles continues her work, her goal is clear: to bridge the gap between past and present by reconstructing personal stories from the past. 'History repeats itself in cycles,' she says. 'By understanding the lives of those who came before us, we can learn how to do better in the future.'

About the KNAW Early Career Award 

Moles is one of the twelve winners of the KNAW Early Career Award 2024. With this award, the KNAW recognizes innovative and original scientific research. The prize also stimulates the further development of a diverse and broad range of early career researchers in various areas within scientific practice.