Heights of twenty years old males of Friuli (Italy) born between 1846 and 1890

The aim of this article is to reconstruct the historical trend of heights of conscripts born in the province of Friuli in the years 1846-90. This work is dedicated to identifying the problems encountered when using enrolment lists and to proposing solutions which can, at least in part, correct these problems. Particular interest is posed in evidencing the very high importance of using homogeneous measurements and in introducing some techniques which have allowed us to render statures uniform and therefore also comparable over time. The results obtained bring to light some possible weak points of the series of Italian historical heights which has been used up to date.