The sensational claim of “Ancient Remains of 5,000-Year-Old ‘Giants’ Discovered in China!” is a story that stems from a real archaeological discovery, but with significant exaggeration. While the headline uses the word “giants,” the actual discovery, made in 2017, was a remarkable find of ancient human remains that were unusually tall for their time, not mythological giants.

Archaeologists in China’s Shandong province did indeed uncover the remains of people from the Longshan culture, who lived around 5,000 years ago. What made this discovery newsworthy was the height of the individuals. The men in the burial site were estimated to be around 1.8 meters (approximately 5 feet 11 inches) tall, with one man reaching up to 1.9 meters (over 6 feet 2 inches). For their time, these individuals were significantly taller than the average human, a fact that was sensationalized in media reports.

This discovery is a true and valuable contribution to archaeology because it provides insight into the ancient Longshan culture. Researchers believe the extraordinary height was likely a result of their diet, which was rich in protein, and their social status, as the taller individuals were found in larger tombs. This real-world find, while not proving the existence of a mythological race of giants, is a fascinating look into the lives and physical characteristics of a sophisticated ancient civilization