The "average" life expectancy of a Paleolithic human (often referred to as a caveman) was approximately 22 to 33 years, but this number is heavily skewed by an extremely high infant mortality rate. If a "caveman" survived the dangerous first few years of life and reached the age of 15, they actually had a reasonable chance of living into their 50s, 60s, or even 70s. Archaeological evidence from the Upper Paleolithic shows that while many died from trauma (hunting accidents), infections, or periodic famine, those who reached middle age were often well-cared for by their tribes. By 2026, modern anthropological research has moved away from the myth that cavemen were "old" at 30; instead, their lifespan was comparable to modern humans if you exclude the lack of modern medicine to treat common infections. Their diet of lean meats and wild plants often left them with cardiovascular health that rivals many 2026 city-dwellers.