How switch from hunter-gathering made our farmer ancestors shorter
The IndependentOur ancestors got shorter when they transitioned from hunter-gathering to farming 12,000 years ago, according to a new study. Professor Marciniak said that previous studies had attempted to deduce the effect of DNA on height, but this new study included measuring the bones of ancient individuals, as well as genetic contributions. She said: “We started thinking about the longstanding questions around the shift from hunting, gathering and foraging to sedentary farming and decided to look at the health affect with height as a proxy. “Our approach is unique in that we used height measurements and ancient DNA taken from the same individuals.” The shift from hunting, gathering and foraging to a settled agricultural lifestyle did not occur across Europe at the same time, but emerged in different places at different points. The study was based around 167 deceased individuals whose remains were found around Europe, 67 of who were female and 100 male.
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