Exploring adolescence as a key life history stage in bioarchaeology

Objectives: Puberty is a period of rapid growth and development, and the age of onset and duration of puberty may serve as an indicator of developmental stress during childhood. In this study, we compare pubertal timing and tempo in individuals from two Roman Imperial cemetery sites, integrating biological and social factors to better understand pubertal timing differences and their possible connection to Early Life Stress (ELS) and peri-pubertal stress.Materials and Methods: Osteological methods to estimate pubertal timing were applied to 264 individuals from Lisieux-Michelet (4th-5th centuries CE; France) and Isola Sacra (1st-4th centuries CE; Italy). Peptide analysis of tooth enamel was used to assess sex in a sub-sample of pre-pubertal remains.Results: Individuals experienced puberty between 9 and 20 years of age, with females experiencing the acceleration stage earlier than males (p < 0.05, g > 1.2).Between the two sites, no significant differences were noted for age-at-death during acceleration, peak height velocity, and deceleration (i.e., the active stages of puberty).Menarche occurred around 15 years of age.Discussion: The inter-site comparisons demonstrate similar patterns of pubertal timing and tempo. For males, the pubertal timing aligns with ancient literary descriptions of key puberty milestones. Females entered puberty earlier than literary sources suggest and experienced puberty for an extended period, pointing to possible gendered exposure to ELS and peri-pubertal stress, influenced by their social status in the Roman Empire. These results demonstrate how pubertal timing and tempo can be used to infer developmental stress in past populations.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pubertal timing as an indicator of early life stress in Roman Italy and Roman Gaul

Avery

Prowse

Findlay

et al. 2022

“…Thus, the broader age at menarche estimate is 14-19, but consideration of these estimates, coupled with the sample composition suggests most individuals would have reached menarche at age 15-17 years, with some early and late developers falling in the broader estimate. This wide distribution is not outside of the expected based on variation in age of menarche reported by Lewis (2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 43%

“…Before discussion of the broader implications of these results can begin, it is important to note several things. First, there is an observed degree of variation in the timing of menarche and puberty of 4-5 years between individuals in modern contexts (Lewis, 2022), and thus, a broad range from 14 to 19 years at Amarna is not unexpected. The second consideration is that "delayed" menarche is difficult to establish for the ancient world.…”

Section: Cautions and Considerationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent methodological advances in bioarchaeology have provided a pathway for identifying the sequential phases of the adolescent growth spurt from skeletal remains (Shapland & Lewis, 2013, 2014), which serves as a proxy for sexual maturation (Lewis, 2022). We can now address individuals by maturational age, and examine samples by developmental stages, amid the biologically active pre‐maturity phase often linked to the teenage years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PHV is associated with the development of breasts and other external signs of maturation in females and increased muscle mass (physical strength) and the attainment of the adult voice in males. Menarche (first occurrence of menstruation) occurs about 1–2 years after PHV, during the Deceleration Phase, where growth returns to “normal” levels, before maturation and the cessation of growth (Eveleth & Tanner, 1990; Lewis, 2022; Shapland & Lewis, 2013). The initial post‐menarche cycles are irregular, and it can take several years for females to attain full fertility (Legro et al, 2000; Metcalf et al, 1983; Treloar et al, 1967), although this should not be misconstrued to indicate females cannot reproduce during this early period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Menarche at Amarna: Timing and the further implications

Dabbs

2023

ObjectiveThis article examines skeletal development in non‐elite individuals from Amarna to identify the age of menarche.Materials and MethodsThe total sample (n = 267; 65 female, 39 male, 163 indeterminate) was examined for six variables indicative of the pubertal stage (mineralization of the mandibular canine root [n = 46], distal radius fusion [n = 227], proximal ulna fusion [n = 220], distal humerus fusion [n = 237], presence of the iliac crest epiphysis [n = 24], iliac crest fusion [n = 199]). Age and sex estimates are based on standard criteria for dental development and eruption, cranial and pelvic morphology, and post‐cranial metric analysis.ResultsThe iliac crest epiphysis is rarely present before age 15 years. Beginning fusion of the distal radius and iliac crest suggests that by age 19, most individuals have entered the maturation phase, providing book ends for the timing of menarche. Variables elucidating the peak height velocity (proximal ulna and distal humerus fusion) narrow that span and suggest menarche is achieved around 15–17 years for most individuals, with a broader estimate of 14–19 years encompassing the known diversity in timing of menarche.DiscussionMenarche is commonly cited as an indicator of adult status. The observed later entrance into this life stage, and the associated reduced fertility, has broader implications for understanding of economic, social, biological, and demographic patterns observed at Amarna and among different social groups in the ancient city, as well as individual life histories.

Proposed complementary osteological indicators: Advancing the estimation of puberty stages in Bioarcheology

Bareggi,

Giuffra,

Riccomi

2024

ObjectivesThe study of puberty is a well‐established area of bioarcheological research, which greatly enhances our understanding of adolescence and growth in the past. Since the publications of Shapland and Lewis' works, which have become “standards” for estimating puberty in skeletal material, no additional osteological indicators of puberty have been proposed. Nevertheless, clinical practice constantly develops skeletal maturation markers that could be useful in bioarcheology. This study aims to assess the applicability and reliability of novel puberty indicators as a complementary tool to estimate puberty in skeletal remains.Materials and MethodsFour new maturation markers including spheno‐occipital synchondrosis, humeral head ossification, calcaneal apophysis ossification, and mandibular premolar mineralization were selected and applied to a sample of 85 adolescents from pre‐Roman southern Italy (Pontecagnano, 7th–4th BCE).ResultsDespite some limits in adapting the original clinical methods to osteoarcheological material, the use of these novel skeletal indicators had moderate to excellent scoring repeatability and an overall high agreement with the puberty and menarche status previously estimated with standard methods. These results encourage us to apply these markers in bioarcheology. In some cases, minor adaptations of the original scoring systems are suggested to enhance reliability.DiscussionIncluding the proposed indicators in routine puberty data collection allows us to refine puberty estimation and improve the ability to identify key growth milestones in poorly preserved skeletons. Further application to osteological collections with diverse chronology and geographical differences is needed to assess how and to what extent the newly proposed maturation markers perform.