Charlotte King

Assisting in the repatriation of ancestral human remains is perhaps one of the most important ways that bioarchaeologists can partner with communities today. In this chapter we discuss the first repatriation of historically-excavated ancestral remains to the Cook Islands. Although bioarchaeological analysis was an important part of this repatriation, the work was led by the descendant community, and the biological analysis was undertaken in line with community beliefs and designed to answer community questions. This chapter has been co-written by bioarchaeologists and community members, and intends to highlight the importance of collaboration and the lessons learned on both sides.

Objectives: Osteological methods for sex estimation are fundamental in biological anthropology, offering critical insights into the biological identity of skeletal remains. However, these methods are not infallible with factors such as age, population affinity, and skeletal preservation impacting their reliability. Recent advancements in peptide analysis present a promising avenue through which to address these limitations. In this study, we aimed to contrast chromosomal sex estimation using peptide analysis with osteological sex estimation results, and assess the impact of any differences.

Materials and methods: A skeletal sample derived from nineteenth-century colonial New Zealand cemeteries (n = 57) was sexed using both standard osteological methods and analysis of sex chromosome-linked isoforms of amelogenin.

Results: Peptide-based sex estimation both increased the number of individuals we were able to assign chromosomal sex to, and revealed six individuals for whom osteological and peptide-based techniques were not in agreement.

Discussion: In this paper, we discuss how peptide analysis of historic New Zealand cemetery samples has both changed our interpretations and added to our understanding of these populations. We show what can happen when osteobiographies are constructed for individuals for whom osteological sex estimation was potentially inaccurate. We also highlight the advantages of peptide analysis in identifying individuals, particularly non-adults for whom osteological sex estimation is not possible.

Payable gold was discovered in New Zealand's South Island in 1861, bringing tens of thousands of people to the Otago Province. Most were men with limited means and no local family. Archival records show that goldfields life was associated with significant risk of disabling injury from earth falls, equine interactions, and violence. Care was usually provided in goldfields shantytowns or rudimentary village hospitals. Until recently, archival records have been the primary means of gaining insight into injuries on the goldfields. In 2018- 2019, the University of Otago and Southern Archaeology excavated unmarked graves at the original Ardrossan Street cemetery in Lawrence, Otago. These are likely associated with the 1861 Tuapeka gold rush. Paleopathological analysis of burial A8 from this site, a middle-aged male, revealed extensive and disfiguring healed fractures to his zygomaticofacial complex, including antemortem loss of most of the left zygomatic arch. This person also had very poor dental health and a lytic lesion in his maxillary palate, suggesting chronic infection in his oronasal region. Computed tomography scans reveal lytic lesions within the diploë of his cranial vault. Multiple episodes of physiological stress during tooth development were identified histologically. The skeletal evidence indicates difficult childhood and an adulthood marked by survival of a traumatic event with long- standing consequences, including likely issues with feeding and mastication. Here we employ a data-layering approach, integrating our findings with goldfields-era hospital archival evidence and previously conducted bioarchaeological analyses, to explore the provision of care during this socially unique period of New Zealand history.

This research assesses the potential for misidentification of sex in individuals of South Asian ancestry using the Walker (2008) morphological skull sex estimation standard [1]. Chromosomal sex was assessed using proteomic analysis targeting sex chromosome-specific amylogenic peptides. Results showed that the Walker method produced incorrect classification for 36.7 % of individuals. Overwhelmingly, those incorrectly assigned were chromosomally male. Misidentification was due to males within the group having lower trait scores (i.e., more gracile traits) than the standard would predict. There was also a high level of overlap in trait scores between male and females indicating reduced expression of sexual dimorphism. The use of established multivariate statistical techniques improved accuracy of sex estimation in some cases, but larger osteological data sets from South Asian individuals are required to develop population-specific standards. We suggest that peptide analysis may provide a useful tool for the forensic anthropologist when assessing sex in populations without population specific osteological standards.

Many mid-19th-century immigrants to New Zealand are presumed to have been in pursuit of a "better life" than was achievable in their origin countries. Here, we utilize histological analyses of internal indicators of enamel growth disruption (accentuated lines [ALs]) in 19 European and Chinese immigrants and five colony-born children from three 19th-century Otago sites. Observations of regular enamel microstructure were used to estimate a chronology of periods of enamel growth disruption. Clear or potential ALs were present in 18/19 (95%) adults and 4/5 (80%) subadults. Mean occurrence of ALs was higher in Chinese individuals than in European individuals between birth and 1 year of age (Chinese mean = 11; European mean = 3.8) and between 3 and 5 years of age (Chinese mean = 12.7; European mean = 1.3). Potential prenatal ALs were observed in three colony-born children. Although similar stressors such as malnutrition and infectious disease would have been present in both Europe and China, their expression in these individuals may reflect the embodiment of different push factors that stimulated emigration to New World colonies such as New Zealand. The presence of ALs in colony-born children indicates some continuation of developmental stressors in New Zealand. The results presented here highlight the value of utilizing microscopic analyses on poorly preserved archeological samples that are frequently excluded from histological examination. This preliminary glimpse into enamel formation disruption challenges the ubiquitous 19th-century narrative of New Zealand as free from the hardships of industrial revolution era Europe and sheds light on the stresses of childhoods spent in rural China and the potential attractions of the Pacific goldfields in comparison. Future work with larger sample sizes will contribute to a critical exploration of experiences of childhood physiological stress in those who lived and died in colonial New Zealand.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the adoption of online education across all sectors worldwide, which was particularly challenging for disciplines that rely on hands-on learning such as bioarchaeology. Although the impacts of this rapid transition have been well investigated in fields such as anatomy and forensic anthropology, there has been little research into its effects within bioarchaeology. We address this deficit by investigating two common perceptions around online learning from a bioarchaeological perspective: (1) online techniques are inadequate for teaching practical skills, and (2) online learning environments lack a sense of community, thereby negatively affecting learner experiences. To gauge learner perceptions around online practical education in this field, we conducted a qualitative survey of participants in a bioarchaeology masterclass series. Results suggest that students perceive online learning to be as effective for practical training as in-person alternatives and that online learning may engender a sense of community when offered using a collaborative, interactive approach. Based on our results we provide several key recommendations for online education in bioarchaeology, including an active emphasis on social engagement and relationship building, culturally appropriate teaching, and the use of resources to encourage flexibility in learning. A Thai-language abstract is available as Supplemental Text 1. La pandemia de COVID-19 desencadeno la rapida implementacion de la educacion en linea en todo el mundo, en diversas disciplinas, y ha sido particularmente desafiante para aquellas que dependen de la ensenanza practica, como la bioarqueologia. Si bien los impactos de esta rapida transicion han sido bien investigados en campos como la anatomia y la antropologia forense, ha habido poca investigacion sobre sus efectos en el campo de la bioarqueologia. Este articulo aborda este deficit a traves de la investigacion de dos apreciaciones comunes sobre el aprendizaje en linea desde una perspectiva bioarqueologica: (1) que las tecnicas en linea son inadecuadas para ensenar habilidades practicas, y (2) que los entornos de aprendizaje en linea carecen de un sentido de comunidad, lo que afecta negativamente las experiencias de los estudiantes. Para medir las percepciones de los alumnos sobre la educacion practica en linea en bioarqueologia, realizamos una encuesta cualitativa de los participantes de una serie de clases magistrales sobre esta disciplina. Los resultados sugieren que los estudiantes perciben que el aprendizaje en linea es tan efectivo para la formacion practica como las alternativas en persona y que el aprendizaje en linea puede generar un sentido de comunidad cuando se ofrece un enfoque colaborativo e interactivo. Basado en nuestros resultados, se presentan varias consideraciones importantes para la educacion en linea en bioarqueologia, incluido el enfasis activo en el compromiso social y la construccion de relaciones, la ensenanza culturalmente apropiada, la accesibilidad de los recursos relacionados con el idioma y el uso de recursos para fomentar la flexibilidad en el aprendizaje.

Toxic metal or element exposure has the potential to cause significant negative health effects in human populations. During the goldrushes of the colonial period, mercury amalgamation was one of the most common methods of extracting gold from alluvial deposits or crushed ore, and exposure to mercury was an occupational health hazard. In this study we examine mercury exposure in mining populations from New Zealand’s first major goldrush, which began in Central Otago in 1861. We explore mercury toxicity through laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometric analysis of archaeological hair and sediment samples associated with the Tuapeka goldfields. Our analysis highlights ubiquitous low‐level mercury exposure on the goldfields, as well as one individual with such high mercury concentrations in their hair that we suspect direct mercury intake, perhaps medicinally, rather than from environmental contamination.

The nineteenth century New Zealand goldfields were a place where people from across the world came together in search of their fortunes. Written accounts of life on the diggings do exist but are of varying veracity and we therefore have little knowledge of the life experiences of those who came seeking gold. Recent excavations in cemeteries associated with the Otago goldrushes, however, are allowing direct reconstruction of lives using biological evidence from the skeletons themselves. In this study we use dietary isotope analysis (813C and 815N) of tissues which form at different points in the life course of an individual to create 'isotopic biographies' of goldrush-era individuals. In addition to telling the individual stories of these people, we also highlight differences in life experience between members of the European and Chinese communities, evidence for seasonal availability of resources on the goldfields, as well as unusual weaning patterns which potentially link to rural poverty experienced during childhood.

The preservation of soft tissue in the archaeological record is a rare phenomenon, especially in temperate contexts. Despite this, brain material is sometimes preserved in temperate climates, even in the absence of other soft tissue survival. However, little has been published on such finds. Archaeologists understandably have minimal experience in handling soft tissue, which may lead to brain material being left under-studied, or potentially unrecognised in situ. As such, there is a need to improve awareness of the preservation of brain material to further its identification, recovery, and analysis in the archaeological record. This paper examines preserved brain material identified in 8 of 77 unmarked colonial burials dating from the mid-to late-nineteenth century in New Zealand. This New Zealand case study provides an opportunity to consider brain preservation in archaeological contexts, and a means to study both in-life health and burial environment conditions. The preserved brain material was analysed macroscopically and microscopically using histological techniques to assess whether in vivo structures were preserved or pathogens affecting the individuals’ health could be identified. Analysis revealed that all preserved brains were diagenetically altered by the burial environment macroscopically in the form of shrinkage, fragmentation, colour change, and incorporation of exogenous microorganisms. Microscopically, neural structures were not observable in the tissue, however in five cases vasculature might be preserved. Preserved vasculature in archaeological contexts may prove useful in the investigation of blood-related disorders, such as sickle cell disease, aneurisms, and blood clotting. Spirochetes (bacteria responsible for multiple diseases in humans, including syphilis) were observed in one individual; however, this analysis could not determine if these were a species which would have caused pathology in life or a species endogenous to the soil and incorporated after death. Importantly, no correlation between macroscopic and microscopic preservation was apparent, serving as a cautionary tale for archaeologists who may wish to analyse brain material in the future – microscopic analysis is necessary to fully assess preservation. •This paper reports the first study of preserved brain material in the archaeological record in Australasia.•All eight identified cases of preserved brain material were diagenetically altered in the form of shrinkage, fragmentation, and colour change.•No positive correlation between macroscopic and microscopic preservation is evident, highlighting the need for greater caution to be taken during the recovery process of human remains to identify potential brain material in situ.•Preserved vasculature and pathological microorganisms suggests there is ample scope in the use of preserved brain material for future research.

•Oakaie and Nyaung’gan are prehistoric sites in Myanmar (ca. 1300-700BC).•1300-700BC is the transitional late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age period.•Individuals have higher δ13C values than those from Mainland Southeast Asian sites.•Individuals have comparable δ13C values to those from Chinese sites.•δ13C and δ18O provide an insight into ancient subsistence in Myanmar. Southeast Asia is becoming a region of increasing interest in discussions of past migration, the origins of agriculture, and past impacts of human land-use change on environments. Myanmar, situated at a geographic and cultural crossroads between East, South and Mainland Southeast Asia, is potentially a critical region for exploring these themes. However, direct data relating to subsistence in the region has been lacking. Here, we apply stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis to tooth enamel from humans and associated fauna to examine the subsistence economy of two communities from Myanmar, Oakaie and Nyaung’gan, spanning the transitional period from the late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age (ca. 1300-700BC). Situated within the broader regional and local environmental context, our data demonstrate the δ13C values of the individuals from the communities of Oakaie and Nyaung’gan are significantly higher, and the δ18O values are significantly lower, than individuals from the other sites in Southeast Asia, however, neither are significantly different to the Chinese sites and they overlap broadly with individuals from Mayutian in Southern Yunnan Province. These findings provide a unique insight into the subsistence economy of the ancient inhabitants of the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar.