JPBS #3 “Viking Physique”
The Vikings were superior in strength and size from the 8th to 11th centuries. Viking men average around 5’6 and women about 5’1. Pathologist’s can determine this fairly accurately based on the femur bones from skeletal remains that have been discovered. During the same time period, Vikings in Sweden were about 3-4 inches taller than the other Vikings in different territories.
It is tougher to determine the weight but based on the average weight of Viking bow survives that has a pull weight of 100 pounds. Archery ranges today say this would take an average of a 160 pound man to carry the bow.
The skill and training of those weapons tell us the strength of the Vikings was also superior. Strength was important and building their strength was a high priority. Everyday life and the food they ate played big roles in size and strength. The daily tasks such has hunting, chopping wood, and building promoter strength and a healthy diet.