The bones, discovered during an excavation in Shandong Province in southeast China, unveil the presence of at least one male individual who would have stood at a height of 1.9 meters (6 ft, 3 in), along with others measuring 1.8 meters (5 ft, 11 in) – categorizing them as giants in their era, towering over their neolithic contemporaries.
“This assessment is solely based on the bone structure,” clarified Fang Hui, the head of Shandong University’s school of history and culture, in an interview with China’s state-run news agency, Xinhua.
“If he were alive, his height would undoubtedly surpass 1.9 meters.”
To provide context, in 2015, the average height of 18-year-old males in the region was 1.753 meters (5 ft, 9 in), as reported by Xinhua. The national average in 2015 stood at 1.72 meters (5 ft, 8 in).
It appears that contemporary men in the same region are noticeably shorter than many of their ancient ancestors, despite the fact that present-day men in China benefit from significantly improved access to a variety of nutritious foods and live in an era where our understanding of nutrition has greatly advanced.
While the exact average height in Shandong 5,000 years ago remains uncertain, it is believed that males in Europe during that period typically stood at 1.65 meters (5 ft, 5 in). Thus, it is evident that these ‘giants’ were notably taller than the norm for their era.
Fang’s research team has been conducting excavations in Jiaojia village, Zhangqiu District, Jinan City, since last year. They have uncovered the remains of 205 graves and 20 sacrificial pits, along with 104 houses.
Regarding the factors contributing to the impressive stature of these ancient individuals, researchers suggest that the people of the Longshan culture, named after Mount Longshan in Zhangqiu, likely had a diet rich in nutritious foods, contributing to their robust physical frames.
“Already engaged in agriculture during that period, people had access to diverse and abundant food resources, leading to changes in their physique,” Fang explained to Xinhua.
Another indicator of the giants’ stature lies in their ancient surroundings. The tallest individuals were discovered in larger tombs, implying that they might have held significant positions of high status, affording them better access to quality food and a comfortable lifestyle.
The layout of the house ruins uncovered in the excavation reveals features like separate bedrooms and kitchens—luxurious amenities for a village dating back approximately five millennia. This lends weight to the hypothesis that the residents of Jiaojia enjoyed a relatively contented existence.
In addition to human remains and building foundations, archaeologists found pig bones and teeth, suggesting that the villagers engaged in animal farming. Colorful pottery and jade objects were also uncovered, adding to the richness of the archaeological findings.
Some of the skeletons and cultural artifacts exhibit signs of physical damage, which may have been intentionally inflicted after the burials. The team speculates that these actions could have been politically motivated, possibly indicating a local power struggle.
It’s important to note that these initial findings are preliminary and have not yet undergone peer review by other scientists. However, what adds to the excitement of the discovery is the vast amount of information still waiting to be uncovered about these ancient peoples and their way of life.
Up to now, only 2,000 square meters of the Jiaojia site have been excavated, representing a small fraction of the total square kilometer intended for excavation and investigation.
The exact secrets that Jiaojia will continue to unveil remain unknown, but there is a significant possibility that we will learn more about how these ancient giants achieved such remarkable height—and much more besides.
