A study by Larsen and colleagues (2001) examines the biological impacts of Spanish colonization on indigenous American populations in the Southeast. Researchers addressed how colonization and missionization affected the lives of local populations by analyzing tooth microwear, both skeletal and dental physiological stressors, skeletal morphology, and stable isotope analysis (Larsen et al., 2001:70-73). This study used documents kept at the Spanish missions and examined skeletal remains of the indigenous inhabitants. Skeletal remains included pre-contact samples and their descendants from the Santa Catalina de Guale mission on St. Catherines Island in Georgia. The study also included samples from two Spanish missions in Florida that consisted of both pre-contact and post-contact inhabitants. The native populations of this region were the Guale in Georgia,
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Before colonial expansion locals lived in smaller groups and inhabited large expanses of land (Larsen et al., 2001). However, after colonial conquest occurred the majority of natives were forced into close contact with one another and their conquerors. Due to these new living arrangements diseases passed easily among the populations (Larsen et al., 2001:75).
Physical activities of local populations also altered after colonization. Indigenous peoples were forced to intensify their physical labor in both construction and agriculture. Since larger populations were now inhabiting smaller areas of land located near Spanish missions, a greater demand was created for foods such as maize. Some of the natives’ new workloads consisted of carrying heavy cargos and traveling long distances, since there were no beasts of burdens in the Americas. It was not until the late mission periods when horses and cattle were brought into these regions (Larsen et al.,
Before colonial expansion locals lived in smaller groups and inhabited large expanses of land (Larsen et al., 2001). However, after colonial conquest occurred the majority of natives were forced into close contact with one another and their conquerors. Due to these new living arrangements diseases passed easily among the populations (Larsen et al., 2001:75).
Physical activities of local populations also altered after colonization. Indigenous peoples were forced to intensify their physical labor in both construction and agriculture. Since larger populations were now inhabiting smaller areas of land located near Spanish missions, a greater demand was created for foods such as maize. Some of the natives’ new workloads consisted of carrying heavy cargos and traveling long distances, since there were no beasts of burdens in the Americas. It was not until the late mission periods when horses and cattle were brought into these regions (Larsen et al.,