#the description of Beor as very old for his time might be explained away as meant to reach audiences more familiar with Númenoreans I guess

[edennill]

Something that really strikes me is how if you look at the lifespans of the First Age Edain that died naturally and that we have dates for, you end up with an average of 89*. Now, for comparison, the average life expectancy in the UK today is "just" 82. The implications are insane. You'd have thought their standard of life was medieval-like.

And it doesn't feel like an overlooked detail that makes little sense -- admittedly, Tolkien did describe Bëor dying at 93 as "at a very old age for men at that time" -- but it doesn't seem implausible for it to be otherwise. We don't have impossibly skilled and knowledgeable magical neighbours, so to say.

But insane? Yes.

***

*(I excluded from my calculations two women who died young "from grief" -- and Beren, who, weirdly enough, died (his second death) at only 71. His inclusion would bring the average down to 87, however I think his circumstances are very specific, and it is implied that maybe prolonged proximity to a Silmaril isn't very good for mortals)