Ancient Slow Growth: Fossil teeth show roots of human development

An extended period of childhood evolved in people at least 160,000 years ago, according to a new analysis of a fossil child’s teeth. That’s the earliest evidence to date of a modern-human life history requiring intensive parental care and a wide range of early-life learning opportunities, the researchers say.

JAW DROPPER. The teeth of a 160,000-year-old Homo sapiens child, shown from above in the youngster’s lower jaw, have yielded evidence of a prolonged-growth pattern much like that of kids today.