Here's an interesting abstract concerning the decrease in stature
over the course of the paleolithic period.

Todd Moody
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J Hum Evol 1999 Mar;36(3):319-33

Evolutionary trends of stature in upper Paleolithic and
Mesolithic Europe.

Formicola V, Giannecchini M

Dip. di Etologia, Ecologia ed Evoluzione, University of Pisa, via
A. Volta 6, Pisa, I-56126,
Italy. [log in to unmask]

Long bone lengths of all available European Upper Paleolithic (41
males, 25 females) and Mesolithic (171 males, 118 females)
remains have been transformed into stature estimates by means of
new regression equations derived from Early Holocene skeletal
samples using "Fully's anatomical stature" and the major axis
regression technique (Formicola & Franceschi, 1996).  Statistical
analysis of the data, with reference both to time and space
parameters, indicates that: (1) Early Upper Paleolithic samples
(pre-Glacial Maximum) are very tall; (2) Late Upper Paleolithic
groups (post-Glacial Maximum) from Western Europe, compared to
their ancestors, show a marked decrease in height; (3) a further,
although not significant, reduction of stature affects Western
Mesolithics; (4) no regional differences have been observed
during both phases of the Upper Paleolithic; (5) a high level of
homogeneity has also been found in the Mesolithic, both in
Western and Eastern Europe; (6) the internal homogeneity found
during the Mesolithic in Western and Eastern Europe is associated
with marked inter-regional variability, with populations of the
latter region showing systematically significantly greater
stature than their Western contemporaries. Evaluation of possible
causes for the great stature of the Early Upper Paleolithic
samples points to high nutritional standards as the most
important factor. Results obtained on later groups clearly
indicate that the Last Glacial Maximum, rather than the
Mesolithic transition, is the critical phase in the negative
trend affecting Western European populations. While changes in
the quality of the diet, and in particular decreased protein
intake, provide a likely explanation for that trend, variations
in levels of gene flow probably also played a role. Reasons for
the West-East Mesolithic dichotomy remain unclear and lack of
information for the Late Upper Paleolithic of Eastern Europe
prevents insight into the remote origins of this phenomenon.
Analysis of regional differentiation of stature, particularly
well supported by data from Mesolithic sites, points to the
absence of today's latitudinal gradients and suggests a relative
homogeneity in dietary, cultural and biodemographic patterns for
the last hunter-gatherer populations of Western Europe. Copyright
1999 Academic Press.

UI: 99175370