Nostalgia for the old country—A histological exploration of early childhood physiological stress experiences in colonial Otago, New Zealand

Bibliographic Data

ID12371570
AuthorsLucy A Kavale‐Henderson (0000-0003-1262-0373, Department of Anatomy University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand, corresponding author), H R Buckley (0000-0003-1047-4288, Department of Anatomy University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand), C L King (0000-0003-2432-0714, Department of Anatomy University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand), Peter Petchey (0000-0002-8986-5806, Southern Archaeology Ltd. Dunedin New Zealand), Anne Marie E Snoddy (0000-0002-0516-785X, Department of Anatomy University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand)
Year2024
Volume34
Issue1
Publication date2024-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1047-482X • E-ISSN: 1099-1212
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/oa.3281
OpenAlexW4390816061
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited119

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

Archaeology · China · Emigration · Geography · Immigration · Malnutrition · Pathology · Psychiatry · Sociology · Stressor · Demography · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Historical Economic and Social Studies · History · Indigenous Studies and Ecology · Medicine

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