28/08/2025
Ice Age teens experienced puberty similar to modern humans, new research reveals
New research on the lives of Ice Age teenagers reveals that they experienced puberty in ways remarkably similar to adolescents today. Published in the Journal of Human Evolution, the research examines 13 adolescent skeletons from the Upper Paleolithic period, dating back around 25,000 years. The study, led by Professor Mary Lewis of the University of Reading, offers a glimpse into the physical and social development of these ancient individuals.
The skeletons, which belonged to teens between the ages of 10 and 20, were unearthed at archaeological sites in Russia, Italy, and Czechia. By examining specific markers in the bones, researchers were able to infer different stages of puberty. This marks the first time that Lewis’s method for estimating puberty stages, previously applied to more recent populations, has been used on Paleolithic fossils. The technique focuses on the mineralization of canine teeth and the maturation of bones in areas such as the hand, wrist, and pelvis to determine the individual’s developmental stage at the time of death.
According to paleoanthropologist April Nowell from the University of Victoria, who co-authored the study, the findings show that these Ice Age adolescents entered puberty at roughly the same age as teens in modern wealthy countries—around 13.5 years old. However, they took slightly longer to complete the process, reaching full adulthood between 17 and 22 years old, compared to the typical range of 16 to 18 years in contemporary societies. “What we see is that they are actually following a blueprint for puberty that was established thousands of years ago,” Nowell explained.