Medieval menarche: Changes in pubertal timing before and after the Black Death

Area of Science:

• Bioarchaeology
• Paleopathology
• Human Biology

Background:

• Bioarchaeological evidence indicates contrasting stature changes in males and females post-Black Death.
• The Black Death (1348-1350 CE) significantly impacted medieval populations.
• Tradeoffs between growth and reproduction influence menarcheal age and limb length.

Observation:

• This study examined menarcheal age in 74 adolescent females from London between 1120 and 1540 CE.
• Females were categorized as pre- or post-menarcheal and grouped by time period: Early Pre-Black Death, Late Pre-Black Death, and Post-Black Death.
• Age at menarche was assessed using Mann-Whitney tests.

Findings:

• The average age of post-menarcheal females increased from the Early to Late Pre-Black Death periods.
• A decline in the average age of post-menarcheal females was observed after the Black Death.
• Female stature reduction post-plague may correlate with earlier menarcheal age.

Implications:

• Younger menarcheal age suggests improved living conditions for medieval adolescent females.
• The findings challenge previous interpretations of female stature reduction after the Black Death.
• This research offers a novel approach to inferring historical menarcheal ages and understanding female health trajectories.