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Hunter-gatherer children in the past: An archaeological review

Milks, A; Lew-Levy, S; Lavi, N; Friesem, DE; Reckin, R; (2021) Hunter-gatherer children in the past: An archaeological review. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology , 64 , Article 101369. 10.1016/j.jaa.2021.101369. Green open access

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Abstract

Theoretical engagement and methodological innovations geared towards identifying the presence and activities of children in archaeological contexts has increased in pace over the last decade. This paper presents a systematic review of the literature pertaining to the archaeology of hunter-gatherer children (H. sapiens). The review summarises methods and results from 86 archaeological publications, and finds a number of research areas that show material culture relating to hunter-gatherer childhood, including children's playthings and tools, learning to flintknap, and their involvement in the making of marks, art and footprints. The results demonstrate a diversity of evidence from all inhabited continents covering an extensive time frame. Following a thematic synthesis, we further explore the implications of these data for our understanding of the cultural variability and patterning of hunter-gatherer children in the deep past. We discuss possible interpretative pathways that can shed light on children's learning processes, agency, minds and bodies, use of space, and how they were embedded in social worlds. The paper closes by proposing potential improvements to archaeological and anthropological research that will further progress our understanding of children as active and engaged members of their societies.

Type: Article
Title: Hunter-gatherer children in the past: An archaeological review
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaa.2021.101369
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaa.2021.101369
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Hunter-gatherer archaeology, Forager children, Palaeolithic, Apprenticeship
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of S&HS > Institute of Archaeology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10139864
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