Cavemen Were Taller Than Farmers

Contrary to the popular image of short, primitive cavemen, early modern humans in Europe 40,000 years ago averaged about 183 cm, or 6 ft, tall. After the invention of agriculture, average height dropped to about 162 cm, or 5 ft 4 in, as diets and lifestyles changed. Humans stayed shorter for thousands of years after farming spread. Humanity only recovered those prehistoric height levels in the 20th century.

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