Ice Age Teens Experienced Puberty Similar to Modern Adolescents, Study Finds

New research reveals that ancient teens entered puberty around age 13.5 and reached adulthood between 17 and 22 years old, mirroring modern patterns.

• Researchers analyzed the bones of 13 ancient humans aged 10 to 20 to study puberty stages.
• The study, published in the Journal of Human Evolution, shows that Ice Age teens were generally healthy.
• Techniques developed by Mary Lewis were used to identify puberty stages and biological sex through skeletal markers.
• One notable skeleton, Romito 2, had dwarfism and provides insights into the social roles of Ice Age adolescents.
• The findings humanize ancient teens, showing that they were active community members involved in hunting, fishing, and gathering.

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