Strong-armed women helped power Europe’s ancient farming revolution
Bone studies show that a low-tech agricultural life sculpted powerful arms that female rowers today would envy
FARM ARMS Central European women who lived in early farming villages generally had stronger arms than women today, including these University of Cambridge semi-elite rowers, researchers say.
Alastair Fyfe/Univ. of Cambridge
Ancient farm women in Central Europe labored so vigorously at grinding grain, tilling soil and other daily tasks that the women’s average upper-arm strength surpassed that of top female rowers today, a new study finds.