Cornelius wrote
In >ethnographic contexts, initiation rites which make
children into adults (sic) >often take place already at age 10-12.
Where does that leave youth?
Point taken regarding the "coming of age", but does this necessarily
imply adulthood and a full integration into an "adult" society.
Often the transition may be marked by a further learning period, with
partial exclusion from certain aspects of the "adult " world. I note
with interest the case of Anglo-Saxon graves where young or Juvenile
skeletal remains are found in association with large swords which
would be nigh on impossible for the deceased individual to have
wielded in life, is this evidence of an initial exclusion, and in
death that rite being conferred upon the youth?
There may also be the aspect of "the angry young men" syndrome to
take into account, or is this simply a modern construct? It also
neglects the role or positioning in a society of young women, which
should form part of a wider theoretical perspective.
The crux of the issue for myself is, that I think perhaps
ethnographic analogy makes too much of the relative positions of
elders in prehistoric society without actually stating it, it seems
to become implicit in the literature. Does anyone have any thoughts
regarding this?
Regards
Steve
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