Natives, prior to the white man, were a very healthy people. It was written amongst the Europeans, who first met natives, that they were a very tall people.
6’6 should not be surprising.
Thanks. I had not heard that. I had always assumed given the origin of "Native Americans" that their stature would tend to be on the short side. Sort of why it would be weird to see a tall, native Mexican.
Given that there were few, if any communicable diseases, and that most Indians did not live in close proximity to one another in built up urban areas plus, given the lifestyle (nomadic hunters, most of them) increased the likelihood that weaker and lest robust individuals were weeded out (natural selection), yes they were healthier - but not for long.