A groundbreaking study recently published in the Journal of Human Evolution has shed light on the lives of Ice Age adolescents, revealing that they underwent puberty stages quite similar to modern-day teenagers. This research fills a significant gap in our understanding of human growth during the Pleistocene epoch, around 25,000 years ago.
Led by paleoanthropologist April Nowell of the University of Victoria (UVic), the study analyzed the bones of 13 ancient humans aged between 10 and 20 years. The team found distinct markers in the bones that allowed them to assess the stages of adolescence these individuals were experiencing at the time of their death. By analyzing specific areas of the skeleton, we inferred things like a person’s menstruation and voice change, explained Nowell.
The study employed a pioneering technique developed by lead author Mary Lewis of the University of Reading. Lewis’s method involves evaluating the mineralization of canine teeth and the maturation of bones in the hand, elbow, wrist, neck, and pelvis to determine the stage of puberty reached by the individual. This is the first time my method of estimating puberty stage has been applied to Paleolithic fossils, said Lewis. It is also the oldest application of another method—peptide analysis—for estimating biological sex.
The findings challenge the long-held belief that life in prehistoric times, as described by philosopher Thomas Hobbes, was nasty, brutish, and short. On the contrary, the study reveals that these Ice Age adolescents were relatively healthy. Most of the individuals in the study sample began puberty around 13.5 years of age and reached full adulthood between the ages of 17 and 22. This timeline is remarkably similar to that of teenagers in modern, affluent countries, suggesting that the onset of puberty has remained consistent over thousands of years.
Connecting with our distant past can be challenging, but understanding that Ice Age adolescents went through puberty much like we do today helps humanize them. Our research helps to humanize these adolescents in a way that studying stone tools alone cannot, said Nowell. This deeper connection offers a more intimate look into their lives, social structures, and how they were perceived by their communities.
Among the 13 skeletons examined was one known as Romito 2, an adolescent male estimated to be the first known individual with a form of dwarfism. The new research provides further insights into Romito 2’s likely physical appearance and social role. At mid-puberty, his voice would have been deeper, similar to an adult male, and he would have been capable of reproduction. However, he likely still appeared quite youthful, with fine facial hair. Due to his short stature, he might have been perceived more like a child, which could have affected how he was treated by his community.
The specific information about the physical appearance and developmental stages of these Ice Age adolescents derived from this study provides a new lens through which to interpret their burials and treatment after death. Jennifer French, an archaeologist from the University of Liverpool and a co-author of the study, noted, The information we have gathered offers a new perspective for interpreting the social roles and cultural significance of these adolescents in their communities.
This collaborative research effort involved six institutions from around the world: UVic (Canada), the University of Reading and the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom), the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of Monaco (Monaco), and the universities of Cagliari and Siena (Italy). The team continues to explore the lives of Ice Age adolescents and their roles within their societies, contributing significantly to our understanding of human development and social dynamics in prehistoric times.
SOURCES
Mary E. Lewis, Jennifer C. French, et al., An assessment of puberty status in adolescents from the European Upper Paleolithic. Journal of Human Evolution, 12 September 2024, 103577. doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2024.103577
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