A mass grave of children was discovered in an abandoned water cistern during archaeological excavations at Tel Azekah, Israel. The remains of between 68 to 89 individuals were found during the excavations and have been dated to the Persian period (5th century BCE), offering a glimpse into how societies at the time treated their young after death. The majority of the remains were found to be children under the age of five, with 70% of remaining remains being toddlers less than two years old. The discovery suggests that the cistern may have been used as a mass burial site for infants who had not yet transitioned from breast feeding to eating solid foods.