A new research project is set to transform how we think about ageing - both in the past and today.
Age-Old Stories will focus on the lives of older adults in prehistoric and Roman Europe.
Age-Old Stories, led by an archaeologist at the University of York, will be the first large-scale study to focus on the lives and experiences of older adults in prehistoric and Roman Europe. By using cutting-edge scientific techniques, the project will reveal how societies valued age, wisdom and experience over thousands of years.
The study has been supported by the UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) flagship Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) fund, which allows universities and businesses to develop talented early career researchers and innovators. Dr Lindsey Büster, from the University of York's Department of Archaeology, is one of 77 researchers to have been awarded funding to lead new research.
Loneliness epidemic
Dr Büster said: "Today, over 11 million people in the UK are aged 65+ and yet ageism is the most common form of prejudice in Europe, and loneliness is described as a "public health epidemic".
"By showing how past societies relied on older adults, the project aims to challenge modern stereotypes and start new conversations about ageing.
"Older people have always been vital to human communities; their skills, knowledge and memories were key to survival. By uncovering their stories, we can challenge the idea that ageing is only about decline."
Social status
Archaeological discoveries already suggest that older adults were central figures in many past societies. In Scarborough in the UK, for example, the remains of Gristhorpe Man - Britain's best-preserved Early Bronze Age skeleton, aged between 45 and 60 - was thought to have been tall and muscular, and nourished by a rich diet. He appears to have been a senior figure in his lifetime.
Other examples from around the world include Shanidar Cave, Iraq, where a Neanderthal buried 45–50,000 years ago, at the age of over 40, had multiple debilitating injuries in life, but survived for years, suggesting that he was valued and cared for by his community.
At the Mesolithic cemetery of Skateholm in Sweden in around 4000 BC, an older adult was the only individual given a labour-intensive cremation rite, pointing to high social status.
Public events
The project will work in partnership with York Museums Trust to create a new exhibition and public events, including lectures and artefact handling sessions. The collaboration builds on the success of the Star Carr: Life After the Ice exhibition, which brought archaeology to thousands of visitors.
It will also collaborate with Age Friendly York to connect directly with older adults in the city, ensuring the findings influence public understanding and support policy change.
Stereotypes
Dr Büster said: "We hope this work will challenge existing stereotypes, offering new narratives about ageing to educate and inspire all generations, as well as celebrate diversity, by showing the varied experiences of older adults across time and culture.
"The ultimate aim would be for the research to provide strong examples of why supporting older adults in being more visible in policy-making and public life is so important."
"Ageing is not a marginal experience, it is a central part of human history and we should have better strategies for valuing and celebrating it in modern society."
