Teenage Kicks! Puberty, adolescence and growing up in medieval England

What was it like to be a teenager or young adult in medieval England? Bioarchaeology (the study of archaeological human remains) can provide a window into this unique life stage in the past. Research on thousands of adolescent skeletons from over 150 medieval sites in England has revealed a picture of freedom, hardship, and fracture patterns that both challenge and reflect historical sources of the time. New methods developed at Reading, that trace the timing of puberty and the adolescent growth spurt in skeletal remains will be introduced. They show how the environment in which these medieval teenagers lived and worked impacted their transition to adulthood, and how archaeology, when coupled with historical and clinical sources, can help answer questions about the pace of adolescent development today.

 

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