Puberty in pre ‐Roman times: a bioarchaeological study of Etruscan‐Samnite adolescents from Pontecagnano (southern Italy)

DiscussionThe onset and completion of puberty in Pontecagnano are mostly in line with pubertal trends emerging from other bioarchaeological studies and historical sources. The considerable inter-individual variability in pubertal timing seen at the site probably reflects its great sociocultural heterogeneity, while the prolonged pubertal tempo could represent an adaptive mechanism in response to environmental disruptors. These may have included endemic diseases characteristic of Pontecagnano ’s marshy environment and pollutants produced by the Etruscan and Samnite metallurgical industries. Moreover, the role of catch-up growth in favoring better pregnancy outcomes could explain why female puberty appears particularly stretched. The importance of exploring pubertal development in past societies without culturally biased assumptions is emphasized.
Source: International Journal of Osteoarchaeology - Category: Science Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research