Aboriginal stature in South Australia; A 10,000-year history

Aboriginal stature across a range of South Australian environments is investigated. Comparison is made between ancient, historical and modern populations. Stature of skeletal remains from the ancient Swanport burial ground was compared against published results for the Roonka site. Stature was reconstructed using Pretty et al. [1998] and the Trotter-Gleser [1952, 1977] method for Blacks. The Swanport sample provided statures of 1,707mm (n = 45) and 1,691mm for males and 1,582 mm (n = 58) and 1,585 mm for females. Roonka statures were 1,652 mm (n = 55) and 1,665 mm for males and 1,527 mm (n = 40) and 1,549 mm for females. An on-going anthropometric study (1996 to 2002) in the Lower Murray Aboriginal communities at Raukkan and Gerard (South Australia) showed the average male stature of 1,715 mm (n = 45) and the average female stature of 1,562mm (n=47). In 1879 the Reverend George Taplin (‘Missionary to the Aborigines’) measured the stature of 14 adults living at Raukkan. His results indicate that males averaged 1,678 mm (n = 6) and females averaged 1,547 mm (n = 8). Historical data for South Australian Aboriginal stature in the arid north of the state show the average male stature of 1,662 mm (n = 35) and the average female stature of 1,557 mm (n = 36). Comparison between these data sets suggests that there has been little alteration in South Australian Aboriginal stature covering a period of approximately 8,000 years. This contrasts with a noticeable recent increase in European stature and has significant implications for our understanding of historical and modern Aboriginal living conditions and nutritional status.