REGIONAL VARIATION IN THE PATTERN OF MAIZE ADOPTION AND USE IN FLORIDA AND GEORGIA

Dietary reconstruction using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from archeological human bone samples frolic coastal Georgia and northern a nd Gulf Coast Florida dating between 400 B.C. and A.D. 1700 serves to illustrate the complexity of rile agricultural transition in that regi on. Isotope analysis of 185 collagen samples drawn from early prehisto ric, late prehistoric, and contact-period mortuary sites encompasses t wo major adaptive shifts in the region, namely the adoption of maize a griculture in late prehistory and the increased emphasis on maize duri ng the mission period. Prior to European contact-and especially before the establishment of Spanish missions among the Guale, Yamasee, Timuc ua, and Apalachee tribal groups-diet was strongly influenced by local environmental factors. Before contact, coastal and inland populations had different patterns of food consumption, as did populations living in Georgia and Florida. Coastal populations consumed more marine and l ess terrestrial foods than inland populations. In general, maize was a dopted during the eleventh century A.D. by virtually all Georgia popul ations. However with the exception of the Lake Jackson site, a major M ississippian center in northern Florida, Florida populations show litt le use of maize before contact. Following European contact, maize beca me widespread spread, regardless of location or habitat within the bro ad region of Spanish Florida. Missionization appears to have been an i mportant factor in the convergence of native diets toward agriculture and away from foraging. This increased emphasis on maize contributed t o a decline in quality of life for native populations.