Anthropology/Life expectancy

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Expert: John Shea - 2/17/2004


Question
John,
What was the life expectancy of Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, and early Homo Sapiens? Is 18 to 20 years about right, with the oldest age around 40?

Thanks,
Tom

Answer
Tom
Your figures is about right for maximum life expectancies.  Individuals in their 40s are extremely rare.  Some scholars place the age of the "old man" of La Chapelle aux Saints in its mid-30s.  Be aware, though that once individuals are skeletally mature (ca. 18 years) estimates of age are based on wear and tear on the skeleton, and this can vary widely among individuals based on subsistence adaptation, parasite load and other factors.
Cheers
John Shea

Anthropology

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John Shea

Expertise

Questions about Old World prehistoric archaeology (especially Stone Age) of Europe, Africa, and Western Asia, prehistoric human and hominid behavior, primitive technology, origin of modern humans, extinction of the Neandertals.

Experience


Publications
Journal of Field Archaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science, Lithic Technology, Evolutionary Anthropology, Current Anthropology, Mitekufat HaEven (Journal of the Israel Prehistoric Society), Paléorient, Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, American Anthropologist, Geoarchaeology.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D (Anthropology) Harvard University, 1991.
BA (Archaeology) Boston University, 1982.

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