5 ms·
Thousands of years ago, people didn't generally live much past 30 years old. UV has been proven to have negative effects that show up later in life than that.
by magduf 9y ago
Thousands of years ago, people didn't generally live much past 30 years old. UV has been proven to have negative effects that show up later in life than that.
- jessaustin 9y agoWhere on earth are you getting this? It was certainly not rare for paleolithic women to see their second and third children live to adulthood.
- magduf 9y agoA paleolithic woman would have had her 3rd kid at around 20 years old tops. Seeing that kid to adulthood is still less than 40 years old. Age-related eye problems don't usually show up until you're over 40.
- jessaustin 9y agoOh I thought the proposed expectancy was 30; 40 is more plausible. Also, a third viable child produced by 20 indicates a fairly rosy local situation. Every viable child would have nursed for at least two years. Infant mortality was much higher. Menarche took place later than in modern humans. Famine was more common. One might think that would simply mean that fertility was lower than I'm proposing, but if you look at what paleolithic humans did that is simply impossible. On foot, they occupied every part of every continent save Antarctica. That required fertility significantly above replacement.