Childhood in Colonial Otago, New Zealand: Integrating Isotopic and Dental Evidence for Growth Disturbance and Oral Health

Experiences of childhood in colonial New Zealand are difficult to reconstruct from the historical record alone. Many those who came colony were illiterate, and Victorian tendency avoid discussion pregnancy breastfeeding practices restricts our understanding this important period. Bioarchaeological investigation, however, has potential illuminate life stories these first-generation Pākehā (European) settlers. Here we use isotopic evidence combined with dental pathology children interred a historic cemetery Otago, Zealand, examine childhood. We show how weaning differ experienced by their emigrant parents, highlight periods illness likely associated process, bring light problems caused maternal Vitamin D deficiency colony.