Gurr Angela, Brook O'Donnell Matthew, Brook Alan Henry
Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Walnut, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2025 Jul 17;20(7):e0320268. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0320268. eCollection 2025.
In multidisciplinary research interpreting interactions between diverse data sources requires a Complexity approach. A Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) framework allows the relationships of multiple factors to be explored and may provide a more holistic and nuanced understanding. This study is innovative in explaining the potential benefits in a CAS approach to combining bioarchaeological and historical data when examining a rare archaeological skeletal sample of early migrants to South Australia (SA). Macroscopic, radiographic and micro-CT methods were used for the analysis of the skeletal remains of a group of 19th century migrants buried in an unmarked area of St Mary's Anglican Church Cemetery. The relevant historical records explored were from British emigrant ships to SA (1836-1885 CE) and the Church burial records (1847-1885 CE). Evidence of poor oral and general health was present in the skeletal material. Dental developmental defects indicated health insults in early life. Pathological manifestations in bone were compatible with joint and infectious diseases, and metabolic deficiencies. Historical documents recorded that the voyages to SA were challenging, with some ships experiencing a high death rate. Diseases, e.g., measles and scarlet fever, and diarrhoea were frequently recorded as causes of death at sea for both non-adults and adults. In the Colony, burial records showed similar causes of death for non-adults, but for adults, accidents and tuberculosis were often reported. The CAS approach provided insights beyond those from analysis of the individual sources. It increased understanding of emergent, non-predicted outcomes that resulted from interactions between multiple factors, the impact of fluctuating economy, political instability and ideological pressures, on the health of migrants. The CAS framework is a valuable methodology for interpreting health patterns and can be further developed including for a range of historical and contemporary health contexts.
在多学科研究中，解读不同数据源之间的相互作用需要采用复杂性方法。复杂适应系统（CAS）框架能够探索多种因素之间的关系，并可能提供更全面、细致入微的理解。本研究具有创新性，它阐释了在采用CAS方法结合生物考古学和历史数据来研究南澳大利亚（SA）早期移民的罕见考古骨骼样本时的潜在益处。宏观、射线照相和显微CT方法被用于分析埋葬在圣玛丽圣公会教堂墓地一个无标记区域的一组19世纪移民的骨骼遗骸。所探索的相关历史记录来自驶往SA的英国移民船只（公元1836 - 1885年）以及教堂埋葬记录（公元1847 - 1885年）。骨骼材料中存在口腔和整体健康状况不佳的证据。牙齿发育缺陷表明早年受到过健康损害。骨骼中的病理表现与关节疾病、传染病以及代谢缺陷相符。历史文献记载，前往SA的航行充满挑战，一些船只死亡率很高。疾病，如麻疹、猩红热和腹泻，经常被记录为非成年人和成年人在海上死亡的原因。在殖民地，埋葬记录显示非成年人的死亡原因相似，但对于成年人，事故和结核病经常被报告。CAS方法提供了超越单个数据源分析的见解。它增进了对多种因素相互作用产生的意外、非预测结果的理解，以及经济波动、政治不稳定和意识形态压力对移民健康的影响。CAS框架是解读健康模式的一种有价值的方法，并且可以进一步发展，包括应用于一系列历史和当代健康背景。
