Pubertal age assessment in bio-archaeology: an application to a Grand Moravian population (9.-11. centuries)

An estimation onset of puberty of past populations is a new approach in the field of bioarchaeology. Findings of the existence of a relationship between physiological processes (menarche onset), skeleton development, and mineralization of permanent teeth, confirm results of contemporary field research. Puberty, the focal point of this study, represents a key phase of the human life cycle with important biological and social connotations. This study focuses on the timing of pubertal development in the early medieval population of Great Moravia (9th−11th century). Inter alia, the aim of the thesis is to estimate the age of the onset and progression of puberty in selected localities of Great Moravia, to compare the timing of puberty among girls from different socioeconomic levels, and to compare pubertal development among girls and boys in particular sites. A total number of 66 individuals between the ages of 7 and 20 were chosen for the purpose of this research. The examined individuals originated from two Great Moravian sites (Mikulčice and Rajhrad) with distinct socioeconomic levels. Their puberty was evaluated on the basis of maturation of the skeleton and mineralization of the permanent mandibular dentition. The thesis findings indicate that the onset of puberty (10−12 years) and menarche (13..