Ostravské muzeum

OSTRAVA’S CHILDREN HAD A HARD LIFE

Anthropological finds from the cemetery at St. Wenceslas’ Church in Ostrava show that local children lived a hard life. Their bones showed traces of physical exertion from a very early age, and most of the children’s teeth displayed signs of hypoplasia – a condition in which the tooth enamel does not develop properly. This suggests that when their adult teeth were formed, these children were exposed to severe stresses caused by disease, hunger, or other hardships.

CHILDREN AND ADULTS

Children were put to work at a very early age, whether in farming, trades, or household tasks. The types of toys found at the Lauby site (mainly pottery figurines of horses, which were probably made at a different location) clearly indicate that the toys were given to children by their parents or other adult relatives. These toys (as well as a lace-up shoe and a jug with a spout) show that there were almost certainly affectionate and supportive relationships within families and the community as a whole.

CHILDREN’S TOYS AND GAMES

Toys found at the Lauby site provide insights into the world of children, showing that despite the difficult circumstances in which they lived, they still had time to play. The finds from Lauby included a substantial number of toys. The youngest children would have played with rattles, while older children would have enjoyed bringing stories to life by acting them out with pottery figurines. Another item unearthed at the Lauby site is a spinning-top; although these were very popular toys, few of them have been preserved. Small pottery balls (marbles) were used to play games with various rules.


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