Chagnon Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 What was probably the typical age a woman would conceive for the first time in prehistoric times before contraception etc? I know there would have been some variations between tribes living in different areas, but I'm only after a likely average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibbica Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 I don't think we have a good idea. What sort of information would you need to look for, to figure that out? Where would that information come from? Prehistory means there's no written record, and we don't have too many frozen pregnant prehistoric women. You're left extrapolating from more modern societies that you think might live in conditions similar to whatever prehistoric folks you're talking about (environmental factors can affect this sort of thing fairly easily). And then, even if you think you've accounted for environmental factors, you still need to worry about whether any of the genetics underlying such a process have changed over tens of thousands of years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moontanman Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 What was probably the typical age a woman would conceive for the first time in prehistoric times before contraception etc? I know there would have been some variations between tribes living in different areas, but I'm only after a likely average. In a series of books written to fictionalize the habits of early man Jean M. Auel Seems to think that first sex was just before or just after puberty for ancient humans and pregnancy would occur soon after if not at that time. Oh, the books are Clan of the Cave Bear and subsequent sequels... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chagnon Posted November 10, 2012 Author Share Posted November 10, 2012 In this thread Age of conception in pre-history? - boards.ie an argument is made that in prehistoric times women would concieve for the first time typically at about 17 and that because of this men have evolved preferences for girls under this age. Is the reasoning right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moontanman Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 In this thread Age of conception in pre-history? - boards.ie an argument is made that in prehistoric times women would concieve for the first time typically at about 17 and that because of this men have evolved preferences for girls under this age. Is the reasoning right? I would think the age would be just after puberty happens, back then that might have been later than now but the age of puberty is probably the driving factor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art_Vandelay Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 In any case, it's older than Aisha was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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