The intimate lives of hunter-gatherer children and adolescents

The primary aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the daily lives and experiences of children and adolescents in contemporary hunter-gatherer societies. The study focuses on cultural and demographic factors that influence children’s experiences and examines general characteristics of childhood among forager communities. A secondary aim of the paper is to discuss, when possible, links between hunter-gatherer children’s lives and the archaeological record. This review focuses on the Aka and other Congo Basin hunter-gatherer because of the extensive amount of recent research on childhood in these groups, but also includes comparisons with foragers in other natural and social settings. The study analyses multiple features of childcare and children’s experiences, such as infant care, physical and emotional intimacy, play, co-sleeping and social learning. Hunter-gatherer societies have relatively unique cultural practices common to many groups living in diverse natural environments and which seem to have been conserved over time and space (Hewlett BS et al 2024). The archaeological record may have limited physical artefacts associated with children, but their lived experiences and activities can still manifest as discernible archaeological signatures. The examination of childhood in hunter-gatherer societies yields valuable insights into the breadth of human experiences and the impact of cultural practices on and by children. Understanding the cultural diversity, life experiences, and behavioural patterns of contemporary hunter-gatherer children holds promise for enriching our understanding and interpretation of children in prehistoric archaeological contexts. The findings demonstrate that children played an active and influential role within their communities, engaging in, learning from, and contributing to cultural practices and archaeological signatures.