Top 7 Largest Human Skeletons Ever Found

The world of archaeology and anthropology is filled with fascinating discoveries that shed light on our ancestors and the history of humankind. One such intriguing area of study is the examination of human skeletons, particularly those that are unusually large.

These discoveries often challenge our understanding of human evolution and provoke questions about the conditions that led to such extraordinary growth. The largest human skeleton ever found is known as the Catalina Island Skeleton.

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Here we would like to share with you the top 7 largest human skeletons ever found and their unique histories.

7. Shandong Skeletons (6 Feet 3 Inches)

Credit: Independent

The Shandong Skeletons as the name states were unearthed in the Shandong Province in southeastern China. The excavation, which began in 2017, revealed the remains of individuals who lived approximately 5,000 years ago during the late Neolithic period.

The tallest of these skeletons measured at 1.9 meters (approximately 6 feet 3 inches), with others measuring 1.8 meters (approximately 5 feet 11 inches. The Shandong Skeletons were found in large tombs, suggesting that these individuals may have been of high status.

This theory is further supported by the fact that the graves contained a number of colorful pots and jade articles.

6. Ancient Roman Skeleton of Fidenae (6 Feet 8 Inches)

Credit: Flavia Brandizzi

The Ancient Roman Skeleton of Fidenae was discovered in 1991 during an excavation at a necropolis in Fidenae, a territory indirectly managed by Rome. The skeleton belong to a male stood at an impressive height of 6 feet, 8 inches.

Upon examination, scientists found evidence of a pituitary tumor in the skull. On top of that the individual passed away at a young age, likely between 16 and 20. This early demise might be associated with gigantism, which is known to cause cardiovascular disease and respiratory problems.

The Ancient Roman Skeleton of Fidenae is the first clear case of gigantism from the ancient past.

5. Serpent Mound Skeleton (7 Feet)

Credit: Graham Hancock

The Serpent Mound Skeleton is a fascinating archaeological discovery found during an excavation at the Serpent Mound, a prehistoric effigy mound located in Adams County, Ohio.

During a four-year excavation, countless buried artifacts were discovered beneath a 5 by 15-foot mound. Among these artifacts was an unusually large skeleton that measured 7 feet in length.

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Some estimates place the construction of the mound at around 300 B.C. The mound itself doesn’t contain any graves or artifacts, suggesting that it may have been constructed for a spiritual or mortuary function.

4. Cresap Mound Skeleton (7 Feet 2 Inches)

The Cresap Mound Skeleton is a significant archaeological discovery dug up during an excavation at the Cresap Mound, a stratified Adena mound located in West Virginia. The Cresap Mound was excavated by Dr. Don Dragoo, an archaeologist with the Carnegie Museum.

His book, “Mounds of the Dead,” published in 1963, mentions the excavation of a 7-foot-2-inch high skeleton beneath Cresap Mound. However, it’s important to note that this measurement was a field measurement, not a scientific reconstruction.

The myth of “giant” Native Americans interred in West Virginia’s burial mounds is a prevailing one, often based on accounts of large skeletons found during mound excavations.

3. Steelville Skeleton (8 Feet)

During an excavation in Steelville, Missouri in 1933, a huge skeleton measuring 8 feet in length was found. This finding was discovered by a young lad named Billy Harman who was simply searching for his arrowheads and stumbled upon a hole with the skeleton inside.

This finding led to an episode of “Search for Lost Giants” on The History Channel being filmed there. The accounts of the giant skeletons being discovered in Missouri are historical facts.

A picture of the skeleton was kept by the Steelville library with details of the finding.

2. Miamisburg Mound Skeleton (8 Feet 1.5 Inches)

Credit: Greater Ancestors

Miamisburg Mound Skeleton was discovered near the Miamisburg Mound in Montgomery County, Ohio, during an excavation in 1899. The Miamisburg Mound is a large Native American conical burial mound constructed by the Adena culture.

The skeleton uncovered near the Miamisburg Mound was measured to be over 8 feet 1.5 inches in length. Excavations in 1869 revealed a bark-covered skeleton and a chamber located 28 feet deep into the mound, but the chamber was found to be empty.

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Not just that but this colossal skeleton was found in an upright position facing east.

1. Catalina Island Skeleton (9 Feet 2 Inches)

Credit: Catalina Island Museum

One particular excavation led by an archaelogist, Ralph Glidden found the world's largest human skeleton on Santa Catalina island, off the coast of California, USA. Glidden claimed that a “giant” and fair-haired ancient race, with adult males measuring 7 to 9 feet in height, once inhabited Santa Catalina and its adjacent islands.

However, John Johnson, Ph.D., curator of anthropology at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, suggested that the reports of ‘giants’ on Santa Catalina Island are apocryphal.

He pointed out that a historic photo of Glidden in the background and the burial in the foreground merely created an illusion that the skeleton is somehow a giant. Nevertheless, it is still yet a fascinating discovery towards the understanding of human evolution.

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