The height of ancient humans offers a unique historical record, reflecting genetics, overall quality of life, health, and nutrition. Fluctuations in average stature are directly linked to major societal changes, such as shifts in food production and living conditions. By studying skeletal remains, researchers piece together a narrative of human well-being that varied significantly across different eras. This biological data serves as a sensitive barometer for measuring the prosperity and challenges faced by past human groups.
How Scientists Estimate Ancient Stature
Bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists primarily estimate the living height of ancient individuals using the length of long bones. The femur and the tibia are the most commonly used bones because their length has a strong statistical correlation with total body height. This relationship is quantified using regression formulas, which are mathematical equations developed by measuring the long bones and height of modern reference populations.
The process involves measuring the maximum length of the preserved long bone, then applying a formula specific to the individual’s sex and ancestral group to predict standing height. This regression method has limitations, including the need for population-specific formulas and potential error when skeletons are incomplete. A more accurate technique, though less frequently possible, is the anatomical method, which sums the vertical dimensions of all skeletal elements contributing to height.
Height Before Farming
Anatomically modern humans in the Upper Paleolithic era, known as hunter-gatherers, possessed a robust stature. Some male populations, such as the Gravettians in Europe, averaged around 179 centimeters (about 5 feet 10 inches). This height compares favorably to modern averages and resulted from their high-quality diet and active lifestyle.
Their diverse diet featured high amounts of protein from game, fish, and wild animals, supplemented by varied plants, nuts, and berries. This varied nutrition ensured consistent intake of calories and micronutrients required for optimal growth. Furthermore, the low population density of these mobile groups meant they experienced less exposure to infectious diseases, which often stunt growth in dense settlements.
The Decline of Human Height Following Agriculture
The shift to agriculture, known as the Neolithic transition, initiated a widespread decrease in average human height across the globe. Studies show that early Neolithic farmers were, on average, about 1.1 to 1.5 inches shorter than their hunter-gatherer predecessors. This decline in stature indicates that the move to farming, while revolutionary, was initially detrimental to individual health.
Nutritional stress was a major factor, resulting from reliance on monocrops like wheat or rice, which are deficient in essential nutrients and protein compared to a varied hunter-gatherer diet. This led to widespread nutritional deficiencies that impaired growth, a condition evident in the skeletal record.
Additionally, the establishment of dense, permanent settlements and living near domesticated livestock dramatically increased the load of infectious diseases. Continuous, intensive physical labor, such as toiling in the fields, also placed mechanical stress on the body and compromised growth potential.
The trend of declining height and general health was observed in the majority of societies that transitioned to agriculture. The environment of the early farming era consistently led to shorter achieved heights.
Stature in Classical and Medieval Eras
Following the initial height dip after the Neolithic transition, human stature remained relatively short and variable throughout the Classical and Medieval periods. Male heights in historic Europe generally remained within the range of 165 to 170 centimeters (5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches) until the 19th century. This range was shorter than the Paleolithic ancestors, illustrating that the health challenges introduced by dense, agrarian societies persisted for millennia.
Height fluctuations during these eras mirrored economic and environmental conditions, measuring living standards. For instance, male height in Northern Europe was relatively tall in the Early Middle Ages, around 173 centimeters, but declined during the later Medieval period. Periods of famine, political instability, and epidemic diseases like the Black Death led to temporary dips in average height due to increased developmental stress.
The slow and irregular recovery of stature required improvements in public sanitation, food distribution networks, and a reduction in infectious diseases. While some regional groups with higher social status or better access to protein were taller, overall population height did not significantly increase until the 18th and 19th centuries. Achieving modern heights required centuries of societal and public health improvements to overcome the biological setbacks of the early agricultural revolution.