The British colony of South Australia, established in 1836, offered a fresh start to migrants hoping for a better life. A cohort of settlers buried in a section of St Mary’s Anglican Church Cemetery (1847–1927) allocated for government funded burials was investigated to determine their health, with a focus on skeletal manifestations associated with metabolic deficiencies. Findings of St Mary’s sample were compared with those published for contemporary skeletal samples from two British cemeteries, St Martin’s, Birmingham, and St Peter’s, Wolverhampton, to explore similarities and differences. To investigate the changing economic background of the St Mary’s cohort, which may have influenced the location of their burial within the cemetery, the number and demographic profile of government funded burials and those in privately funded leased plots were compared. The study sample consisted of the skeletal remains of 65 individuals (20 adults, 45 subadults) from St Mary’s Cemetery ‘free ground’ section. The bones and teeth of individuals in this cohort showed evidence of pathological manifestations, including areas of abnormal porosity in bone cortices in 9 adults and 12 subadults and flaring of metaphyses (one subadult) and costochondral junctions of the ribs (one subadult). Porous lesions of orbital roof bones (Types 3 to 4) were seen on three subadults. Macroscopic examination of teeth identified enamel hypoplastic defects and micro-CT scans showed areas of interglobular dentine. Comparison of St Mary’s findings with the British samples revealed that prevalences of manifestations associated with vitamin C deficiency were higher at St Mary’s and manifestations associated with vitamin D deficiency were lower respectively. The location of burial pattern at St Mary’s Cemetery, from the mid-1840s to1860s, showed differences in the economic status of migrants. This pattern changed from the 1870s, which reflected improvements in the local economy and the economic recovery of the colony.

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Archaeological investigation of the dentoalveolar complex in situ within a human skull requires detailed measurements using non-invasive techniques. Standard macroscopic and radiographic methods have limitations but large volume micro-computed tomography (LV micro-CT) scanning has the potential to acquire data at high resolution in microns. In this study, archaeological specimens are analyzed using three-dimensional data visualization software from LV micro-CT scans with the aims of (1) determining whether LV micro-CT can act as a single technique to provide detailed analysis of the dentoalveolar complex and (2) how findings from the LV micro-CT technique compare with standard methods. These aims are explored by measuring a range of human skull specimens from a rare archaeological sample requiring non-invasive methods, for multiple dental and alveolar bone health categories. The LV micro-CT technique was the only method to provide a full range of detailed measurements across all categories studied. A combination of macroscopic and radiographic techniques covered a number of categories, but the use of multiple methods was more time consuming, did not provide the same level of accuracy, and did not include all measurements. There were high levels of reproducibility for intra-operator scoring and good inter-operator agreement from four operators with one operator whose results were outliers. As a further investigation of the potential of the LV micro-CT technique, an additional individual, a fragile, fragmented skull of an infant was studied. This investigation confirms the value of LV micro-CT scanning as a non-invasive, accurate, single technique for the extensive analysis of the dentoalveolar complex within archaeological skulls, which also allows the relationship of different tissues to be studied in situ.

Nineteenth century medical understanding of human metabolism was limited, therefore, the incidence of metabolic deficiencies was not fully recorded. In addition, the transition from agricultural based mode of life to the industrial one significantly changed the pattern of these metabolic deficiencies. They were further altered by colonization of distant continents. Palaeopathological study of skeletal remains from the early industrialized colonial-era allowed light to be shed on the metabolic stresses produced by this new mode of life. Aims of this study were to investigate manifestations of disease in skeletal remains from 65 (20 adults, 45 sub-adults) migrant settlers buried in the free ground of St Marys Anglican Church Cemetery (1847 to 1927). An area allocated for burials paid for by the South Australian Government. Skeletal manifestations were determined and interpreted in terms of their multiple aetiologies. Findings were compared with those published for two 19th century British samples. Skeletal manifestations, commonly related to metabolic deficiencies, were observed. Areas of abnormal porosity of bone cortices were seen in 9 adults and 12 sub-adults, flaring of metaphyses was seen in one sub-adult, flaring of costochondral junctions of the ribs was seen in one sub-adult. Porous lesions of orbital roof bones (Types 3 to 5) were seen on three sub-adults. Micro-CT scans of tooth samples located interglobular dentine in three individuals. Comparison of St Marys findings with St Martins, Birmingham, and St Peters, Wolverhampton, UK, showed more individuals from St Marys had areas of abnormal porosity of bone cortices possibly related to vitamin C deficiency. However, St Marys sample displayed fewer changes attributable to vitamin D deficiency as expected in a country with greater UV irradiation. This indicates that, although the early industrialization produced metabolic stresses, change of the environment through colonization of new continents altered the distribution of metabolic deficiencies.

In 2003 historical (non-Aboriginal) human skeletal remains archaeologically excavated from St Mary’s Anglican Church cemetery in Adelaide, South Australia were reinterred in a concrete subterranean crypt. This paper examines preservation status following 15 years of interment. Skeletal remains placed in sealed plastic bags inside plastic curation boxes provided the best method to ensure physical and chemical preservation. Prefabricated concrete containers offer a cost-effective solution for the reburial of human skeletal remains associated with a range of archaeological contexts, including eroding burial sites, urban development sites, or those derived from earlier archaeological excavations. In relation to Indigenous burial sites, in cases where considered culturally appropriate, onsite crypts allow storage or repatriation of ancestral remains ‘on country’. Concrete crypts provide cultural heritage management professionals and Indigenous communities with stable, dry, long-term burial sites that allow quick and easy access should ongoing management options, Indigenous cultural practices, or future research require re entry into the crypt.