Medieval Ancestors Measured Up To Our Height Standards

The Times/British Archaeology ^ | 9-19-2005 | Norman Hammond

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[nuconvert]

"the average height of men in Britain ....5ft 7in"

I think the warm beer is stunting their growth

[Chicos_Bail_Bonds]

bttt....from a 5'7" guy myself. :)

[RightWinger]

Wow, I feel like a giant at 5' 8".
{;o)~

[SuzyQue]

Me too, at 5'9"!

[redheadtoo]

I feel like a giant at 5' 8".

Beat you, I'm 5' 9". So what would our ancestors say about my father 6' 4" and my cousin who is 6' 6"

[Post-Neolithic]

"and the small suits of clothes and armour in museums."

Most Armor that survived the medieval era would have had to been well taken care of, I.e. Most likely ceremonial and as such smaller then the norm for most armor of it's time. Ceremonial armor tends to be smaller because of cost.

[Fruit of the Spirit]

I believe I read somewhere that Edw. III (father of the Black Prince) was about 6'.

It always amazed me how they could have wielded those huge swords.

[El Gato]

Just call me Andre at 5 10 1/2 down from 5 11.

I have trouble buying this. I know far too many of the baby boom generation that are significantly taller than their parents of the WW-II generation, and far too few who are shorter, to believe this completely. (including my brother an I, only one "blood" uncle is about our height, the other earlier generation relatives are shorter) The baby boom also marks the transition from most people living on farms, to most people living in towns or cities with all the changes that brought. I also see the effect in first generation Americans, of most all ethnic groups, the kids are taller than the parents.

Maybe the effect didn't occur in England? Maybe the effect didn't occur in Jolly Olde, or happened much earlier, and they are just short.

[SoDak]

Wow, 5'7 is the average? I'm 6'6 and I generally think of guys under 6 ft as being overly short.

[MARTIAL MONK]

I'm 6'6 and I generally think of guys under 6 ft as being overly short

When the fight starts remember that I'm on your side.

[Morgan in Denver]

I think it's wishful thinking on the part of the author.

Notice this so-called study was done by women? Do they have a bias? LOL

But seriously, go to any museum and see the outfits people wore in history and try making the same claim. Were this true, short shorts made their appearance eons ago, and some outfits would have been like thongs on the wearer.

[Bar-Face]

"I think the warm beer is stunting their growth"

Do you know why the English drink warm beer?

Because George Lucas also made refrigerators.

[El Gato]

It always amazed me how they could have wielded those huge swords.

Ask FReeper Xenalyte.

That's her small sword.

[Kiss Me Hardy]

Nown to his subjects as Edward Longshanks.

[PeteB570]

I drink cold beer; 6'3".

[nuconvert]

lol. See?! I think there's something to this theory. ;~ )

[A CA Guy]

I think it is because of the queen, and they should just stop listening to Elton.

[RightWhale]

I generally think of guys under 6 ft as being overly short

So, this here sword will only reach to your neck.