There isn't one single "tallest" extinct human species, but Homo heidelbergensis and early Homo sapiens (Cro-Magnons) were among the tallest, with males reaching around 180 cm (6 feet), possibly taller than Neanderthals, while Homo erectus had human-like proportions but was generally shorter, around 180 cm (6 feet) at most, with some modern populations like the Dinka of South Sudan being exceptionally tall for Homo sapiens today.
Tallest Humans and Apes: The tallest known hominins (human ancestors since we split from great apes) is probably homo Erectus that by some estimates either reached or averaged 180cm (6 ft). I see multiple studies with varying estimates.
Robert Wadlow, known as the Alton Giant or the Gentle Giant, remains the tallest human ever recorded. Standing at an astonishing 8 feet 11.1 inches at the time of his last measurement in June 1940, his extraordinary life continues to captivate visitors to his hometown of Alton, Illinois.
10,000 years ago: European males – 162.5cm (5 ft 4 inches). A dramatic reduction in the size of humans occurred at this time. Many scientists think that this reduction was influenced by global climatic change and the adoption of agriculture.
Lucy was 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) tall, weighed 29 kg (64 lb), and (after reconstruction) looked somewhat like a chimpanzee.
Archaic Homo sapiens, the forerunner of anatomically modern humans, evolved in the Middle Paleolithic between 400,000 and 250,000 years ago.
Lucy stood about 3 feet 5 inches tall and weighed around 60 pounds. Her arms are longer than those of a modern human, her ribcage is wider, and her pelvis and leg bones show that she walked upright on a regular basis. At the same time her curved fingers and shoulder structure suggest strong climbing ability.
If you were a big Norseman, you probably decided to become a Viking as opposed to taking up farming. The average man from Norway, Denmark, or Sweden during the middle ages would typically be around 5'7" to 5'9", while someone living on mainland Europe (i.e. former Roman Empire) would be closer to 5'3" or 5'4".
Meanwhile, Americans aren't quite as tall compared with the rest of the world anymore. A century ago, American men ranked as the third tallest in the world, standing at 171 centimeters (5 feet 7 inches). Now, they place as the 37th, with an average of 177 centimeters (5 feet 10 inches).
Early humans were 5 feet tall on average
Height and weight have not consistently increased together; early Neanderthals tended to be taller than those who came later, but their weight remained the same. Their short, stocky bodies gave them an advantage in colder climates.
Robert Wadlow (1918-1940) was the tallest man in medical history, according to The Guinness Book of World Records. He stood 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall, thanks to gigantism, a rare condition in which too much growth hormone makes a child unusually large.
According to Guinness World Records, Robert Wadlow of the United States (1918–1940) was the tallest person in recorded history, measuring 272 cm (8 ft 11 in) at the time of his death. There are reports about even taller people but most claims are unverified or erroneous.
Goliath (/ɡə.ˈlaɪ.əθ/ gə-LY-əth) is a Philistine warrior of giant stature who plays a pivotal role in the origin myth of King David in the Book of Samuel. According to 1 Samuel, Goliath challenges the Israelites to best him in single combat.
Humans looked essentially the same as they do today 10,000 years ago, with minor differences in height and build due to differences in diet and lifestyle.
Neanderthals co-existed with modern humans for long periods of time before eventually becoming extinct about 28,000 years ago. The unfortunate stereotype of these people as dim-witted and brutish cavemen still lingers in popular ideology but research has revealed a more nuanced picture.
There are few signs that ancient humans ever grew much taller than we do. While anthropologist Lee Berger once claimed that some members of a species of archaic hominin, H. heidelbergensis, grew to over 7 feet tall, there's little evidence that's true. If anything, ancient humans were shorter than we were.
Late Upper Palaeolithic males (8000-6600 BC) were of medium stature and robusticity (mean height 166 cm, estimated average body weight 62 kg).
Human height has steadily increased over the past 2 centuries across the globe. This trend is in line with general improvements in health and nutrition during this period. Historical data on heights tends to come from soldiers (conscripts), convicted criminals, slaves, and servants.
Rich Tudors were much taller than common folk. Whilst most men were averaging 5 foot, 8 inches, Henry VIII was actually over 6 foot and Catherine Parr was thought to be about 5 foot, 10 inches.
Right from childhood, the Vikings enjoyed a good nutritional diet, teeming with proteins and nutrients. Such early dietary advantages laid the foundation for their adult height. Their diet, abundant in fish, meat and dairy, was a nature-made height-boosting formula.
Jóhann Kristinn Pétursson (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈjouːhanː ˈkrɪstɪn ˈpʰjɛːtʏr̥sɔn]; 9 February 1913 – 26 November 1984), also known as the Icelandic Giant and the Viking Giant, was an Icelandic circus performer and actor who at his peak measured 2.34 metres (7 ft 8 in) in height and weighed 163 kilograms (359 lb).
Even as paleoanthropologists debate her place in the human family tree, they agree no known human ancestor has had the impact of Lucy. They still marvel at the detailed view of our past revealed by her skeleton.
Lucy's eyes are revealed for the first time (at least one of them). Although her eyes have never been properly shown in the show, she has been referenced with eyes. Lucy's left eye would later be revealed in A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice, which also reveals that she has bags and three eyelashes.
Lucy's fossils, pictured above, are now at the National Museum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After Lucy's discovery, her fossils were returned to Ethiopia, where they are currently kept at the National Museum in Addis Ababa.