Semester Award Granted

Spring 2025

Submission Date

May 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Meredith Ellis

Abstract

Adolescence marks a critical period of social and biological transition, characterized by the onset of puberty—a pivotal milestone indicating sexual maturity. Shapland and Lewis (2013, 2014) proposed a method for tracking pubertal stages within the skeleton, encompassing observations of various skeletal developments such as the mandibular canine, hamate bone, distal radius, phalanges, and cervical vertebrae 3-5. This study analyzes the pubertal stages in 26 subadult females, aged eight to 20, from the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. By integrating the extensive background information provided by the New Mexico Decedent Image Database, this study explores the factors influencing the onset of puberty—early, normal, or delayed—and their correlation with nutritional and social stresses. The results of this project reveal a diverse range of pubertal ages and the suggested impact of socioeconomic, environmental, and health factors on the age of menarche. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of adolescence in bioarchaeology, emphasizing the biocultural implications of pubertal development.

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