Árbók Háskóla Íslands - 02.01.1925, Side 251

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measuremenls of some Icelanders. Aecording to him their
stature is about 170 centimeters and „modern Icelanders are
fair, hig men“. Some Icelanders have measured the height of
inmates of schools a. o. One of the most remarkable investiga-
tions are the measurements of 54 Icelanders in Copenhagen,
mostly undergraduates, by Dr. L. Ribbing (Tables p. 36—37).
The average stature of males was according to the above named
measurements:
In 1870: John Beddoe: Adult ....................... 170,00 cm.
— 1901—12: Pálmi Pálsson: 182 m., 20—28 years old 172,47 —
— 1910—12: D. Sch. Thorsteinsson: 272 m., 20—48 vs. old 172,67 —
— 1913—14: Páll Jónsson: 67 males, 20—33 years old .. 172,72 —
— 1912: L. Ribbing: 54 males, 17—34 years old .... 173,80 —
These measurements agree rnore or less and show, that Ice-
landers are of comparatively high stature and that the average
stature of adults approximates 173 cm.
C. The researches of the author and the materials,
serving as a basis.
Anthropological research is more difficult in Iceland tlian
in other countrices, because it has no obligatory service and
whatever selection is made of men for measurements, it is
difficult to make sure that they represent tlie average Icelander.
Still the town of Reykjavík (20.000 inhabitants) is in a way
an epitome of Iceland, for people from all parts of the island
have flocked there. The aulhor, in the course of 2 winters
(1920—21 and 1922—23), took measurements of all tiliose
attending schools in Reyikjavik (the University, the Grammar
School, the Navigation School, theTeacher’s School, theCoo]iera-
tive School, the Commercial School and the Engineering
School), above 20 years old. In addition he took measurements
of the staff of the Universily, the members of Parliament,
members of the audience at Parliamentary sittings, and, fin-
ally, of men whom he met in the streets of the town. Altogether
he measured over 1000 males of various ages. Of these 844 were
20—40 years of age, and all the chief average numbers are
based on that age; 233 were 20-—22 years old, which corre-
sponds largely with the age of recruits in Scandinavia. It was
not possible in every instance to undress for measurements
and, therefore, only about 660 men were measured completely
(all measurements taken) and undressed.