Ancient Europeans, including those as young as 10 years old, wore cheek piercings 30,000 years ago, according to a new study published in the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology. The study suggests that these piercings were not only fashionable but also held social significance.
Researchers found that the teeth of Pavlovian people, who lived in Central Europe between 25,000 and 29,000 years ago, showed signs of wear on the cheek side due to the presence of labrets – a type of piercing inserted into the lower lip or cheek area. The study’s lead author, John Willman, believes that these piercings signified membership in a group.
However, the piercings also caused teeth to become crowded and worn down over time. Willman notes that children as young as 10 years old had labrets, indicating that they became an accepted practice at a relatively early age.
While labret use is considered safe, it can cause damage if done incorrectly. The study’s findings offer valuable insights into the personal and social identity of ancient people, shedding light on how these piercings were used to signify group membership and individual status.
Experts say that this discovery highlights the complexity of ancient cultures and the importance of re-examining past collections of artifacts to uncover new information about our ancestors.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/ice-age-europeans-as-young-as-10-years-old-rocked-cheek-piercings-30-000-years-ago