Is this correct?

Question

I have a theory and I've read it somewhere that the average lifespan of a caveman or pre-human man was 25 years and they reproduced during their teen years. Is this correct or close to the idea that many evolutionists and anthropologists agree on.

And also what ages were they most likely to reproduce?

I was thinking about how in ancient Egypt girls as young as 11 were married off, so do you think that even in prehistoric or ancient time puberty started around age 10 to age 20 (much like today)?

Hmmm, that could also hold a key to why we have pedophilia issues.

Answer 1

Icabod is definately on the right track with this one, I just wanted to add a couple things.

First, I think it should be noted that even up until the last century or so it was perfectly acceptable for a girl to be married off young. A woman was considered a woman once she hit puberty. Depending on time period and culture this attitude is pretty much the norm throughout history and culture. It is really only in the last hundred years that we have tried to extend childhood. Also, I think it is important to note, that it was not uncommon for fathers in European and early American society to arrange marriages for their daughters with much older men. Family alliances, social strategy, and other various elements far outweighed any inconvenience to the daughter. It is important to note, that throughout much of European history over the last 2000 years women in general have been treated largely as property, passed from father to husband.

As far as pedophilia goes. Unfortunately this was something that was not examined until recent decades. Not to say people didn't know it was wrong, but there was no official stand and no one really got in trouble for it. Same with rape. It only became illegal and prosecutable recently. Mostly if a woman was raped it was assumed she had it coming or had wanted it.
The point is, while I do agree there are some relative elements, I think that this is more a question about the basic animal urges men must reign in to function in our society.

I have wondered if the reason teen sex has always been a problem isn't because the teens are less moral, but rather because the timetables of our lives in modern society has changed, but our basic biology has not. A women's best reproductive years are in her mid-late teens - mid-twenties, and most of us ladies are trying to put off our first children until we are at least thirty. Doesn't really add up, I definately think there is something to be learned here, I'm just not entirely sure what it is. Interesting topic though.

Answer 2

I am not sure where you found your info, but I know that Ötzi, The famous "Iceman" found in 1991 was roughly 45, and was out probably hunting... this is not an activity that the elders probably would be doing. The paleolithic and Neolithic peoples were very adept at surviving in thier own world, unlike ourselves. As for breeding early, yes, people until recently have been breeding with girls as soon as they can, and if you look at teen pregnancy rates, that really hasn't changed except in the mainstream, and today it is considered taboo and normally isn't brodcast to the world. There is also evidence that puberty is starting earlier in girls now than in the past - theories for this range from evolution to the stress that is put on girls. In history, societies would start breeding with women as soon as they were capable... the INFANT mortality rate was gigantic, so you wanted to make sure that you didn't waste any time popping kids out because you may only have a few survive, and when it takes almost a year to carry, deliver and nurse a child, much less concieve again, you want to get started early. As for the biblical folks out there, there are many documents supporting that even Mary became knocked up by the Big guy when she was Very young - perhaps 13 or so...I guess that could go into the whole pediphile thing, along with a whole line of religious bashing, but I i will not stray into that territory...

Answer 3

This is correct. In the caveman era, and right up until Shakespeare's time, most people died of old age at around 25, assuming that they weren't killed off by starvation, disease, war, or predators before that. Because of this, people started reproducing as soon as they were capable of doing so (early teen years), to ensure that their genes would be passed on. In the days of the caveman, when a girl began to menstruate (age 9-14), she immediately became a woman and was considered an eligible partner. Since then, almost all societies have had marriage laws based on this fact.

Answer 4

Life expectancy is based on a number of factors. To quote one site:

"Life expectancy changes as one gets older. By the time a child reaches their first year, their chances of living longer increase. By the time of late adulthood, ones chances of survival to a very old age are quite good. For example, although the life expectancy from birth for all people in the United States is 77.7 years, those who live to age 65 will have an average of almost 18 additional years left to live, making their life expectancy almost 83 years"

A life expectancy of 25 doesn't mean all people died at 25. It means there were lots that died before then. The vast majority would be babies under 1 year and then young children. If you reached 25, then the odds were good you live to what we consider old age.

There are many illnesses that children get. Back then smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, chickenpox, measles all could kill you. Today, most young children get shots and aren't at risk.

Simple sanitation greatly increases life expectancy. Many students run to the school nurse when they get a cut. Centuries ago, a cut could lead to infection kill you. Worms and parasites are other things that could lead to poor health and death. A simple problem such as an bad tooth could kill.

In a prehistoric society, you'd have lots of births, with lots of babies and mothers dying. Then you'd have young children under 5 dying. Those that made it through the first 5 years had a good chance to reach adulthood. Mostly there weren't a lot of people in their 70s. Wear and tear from living, accidents and disease would kill many.

Would they have married young and given birth soon after? That's likely as so many women and babies would die that numerous births were needed to keep the population going.

Answer 5

I would probably not correct him as I didn't give him the command. Isn't the point of learning these commands is to do then when the command is given? Wouldn't it almost be like the dog dictating commands and now you're following his lead instead of the other way around? My dog will sometimes speak when he wants a treat, even though none were offered. If I played along and have given him the treat, it now turns into him not earning his treat on my terms, but demanding the treat and being rewarded for it. Then I would think if you didn't give the command and he was just laying down to lay down and then was reprimanded for coming out of the stay, I would think that would be confusing to the dog.

Answer 6

It is not correct, the life expectancy of a caveman was 16 years old.

Answer 7

well i am not sure if that theory of yours is ture or not. all i know is that humans or cavemans cannot live 25 years. i think its more than that you expect.