New studies from North Carolina State University suggest that Native Americans from the Cherokee tribe during the Trail of Tears in the 1830’s experienced an interference with the normal growth of their skulls due to extreme amounts of stress.  Stress affects cranial length, and this affect decreases the size of the skull. Data collected of adults born between 1783 and 1874 shows a significant truncation of the skull. The leader of the study, Ann H. Ross, says that this type of research allows scientists to interpret the effects of historical events.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/22/science/the-trail-of-tears-and-of-damaged-skulls.html?ref=science