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Ice Age Teens Achieved Puberty at the Same Age as Modern Teens
It turns out the kids might be all right, contrary to what some people have been saying. A brilliant new study has revealed fascinating insights into the adolescent development of Ice Age teenagers from 25,000 years ago, shedding light on the timing of puberty in Pleistocene youths. The research analyzed the bones of 13 ancient individuals estimated to be between 10 and 20 years old, to learn, among other things, that Ice Age teens were actually quite healthy.
‘Normal’ Puberty: The Time Frame of Pleistocene Adolescent Development
The researchers also learnt, crucially, that most of the individuals in the sample entered puberty at an average age of 13.5, reaching full adulthood between the ages of 17 and 22. This timing is strikingly similar to that of adolescents in modern, affluent societies, suggesting that the onset of puberty has not significantly changed over millennia. These and other findings have emerged from the riveting new study published in The Journal of Human Evolution.
This collaborative research involved six institutions across multiple countries, including UVic in Canada, the University of Reading and University of Liverpool in the UK, the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of Monaco, and universities in Cagliari and Siena in Italy. The ongoing collaboration aims to deepen our understanding of the lives of Ice Age teenagers and their roles within their social structures.
The research analyzed the bones of 13 ancient individuals estimated to be between 10 and 20 years old. By examining these bones, researchers identified specific markers that allowed them to assess the stages of adolescence the individuals had reached at the time of their deaths.
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