Macropod Bone Apatite Isotopic Analysis as Evidence for Recent Environmental Change at Bandicoot Bay Pearling Camp, Barrow Island, Australia

Jane Skippington; Tiina Manne; Alistair Paterson; Peter Veth

doi:10.1007/s10761-021-00640-5

Macropod Bone Apatite Isotopic Analysis as Evidence for Recent Environmental Change at Bandicoot Bay Pearling Camp, Barrow Island, Australia

Jane Skippington, Tiina Manne, Alistair Paterson, Peter Veth

School of Social Sciences

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Abstract

Stable isotope analysis of bone apatite oxygen (δ¹⁸O) and carbon (δ¹³C) was undertaken for modern and archaeological spectacled hare wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) bone collected from an 1880s indentured labor confinement camp on Barrow Island in Western Australia. δ¹⁸O results and historical climate data indicate decreased annual precipitation during occupation of the site and provide insight into the conditions experienced by Aboriginal pearling laborers incarcerated on the offshore island. δ¹³C values may reflect variation in water availability or a short-term vegetation change resulting from landscape burning. This study is the first application of macropod bone apatite isotopic analysis in an Australian historical context and demonstrates its significant potential for identifying recent environmental changes to a high level of sensitivity.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1054-1071
Number of pages	18
Journal	International Journal of Historical Archaeology
Volume	26
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-021-00640-5
Publication status	Published - Dec 2022

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10.1007/s10761-021-00640-5

AAM Skippington et al 2022 Macropod Bone Apatite Isotopic Analysis as Evidence for Recent Environmental Change at Bandicoot Bay Pearling Camp, Barrow Island, Australia
The version of record of this article, first published in International Journal of Historical Archaeology, is available online at Publisher’s website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10761-021-00640-5
Accepted author manuscript, 377 KBLicence: Other

Cite this

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title = "Macropod Bone Apatite Isotopic Analysis as Evidence for Recent Environmental Change at Bandicoot Bay Pearling Camp, Barrow Island, Australia",

abstract = "Stable isotope analysis of bone apatite oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) was undertaken for modern and archaeological spectacled hare wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) bone collected from an 1880s indentured labor confinement camp on Barrow Island in Western Australia. δ18O results and historical climate data indicate decreased annual precipitation during occupation of the site and provide insight into the conditions experienced by Aboriginal pearling laborers incarcerated on the offshore island. δ13C values may reflect variation in water availability or a short-term vegetation change resulting from landscape burning. This study is the first application of macropod bone apatite isotopic analysis in an Australian historical context and demonstrates its significant potential for identifying recent environmental changes to a high level of sensitivity.",

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note = "Funding Information: This research was conducted as part of the Barrow Island Archaeological Project and was funded by an ARC Discovery Grant (DP130100802) 2013–15 awarded to Peter Veth, Tiina Manne, Alistair Paterson, Mark Basgall, David Zeanah and Christa Placzek. Department of Parks and Wildlife (now Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions), WA Oil, and Chevron Australian Business Unit provided personnel and logistical support. AP is supported by an ARC Future Fellowship (FT150100168). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.",

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doi = "10.1007/s10761-021-00640-5",

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AU - Veth, Peter

N1 - Funding Information: This research was conducted as part of the Barrow Island Archaeological Project and was funded by an ARC Discovery Grant (DP130100802) 2013–15 awarded to Peter Veth, Tiina Manne, Alistair Paterson, Mark Basgall, David Zeanah and Christa Placzek. Department of Parks and Wildlife (now Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions), WA Oil, and Chevron Australian Business Unit provided personnel and logistical support. AP is supported by an ARC Future Fellowship (FT150100168). Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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N2 - Stable isotope analysis of bone apatite oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) was undertaken for modern and archaeological spectacled hare wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) bone collected from an 1880s indentured labor confinement camp on Barrow Island in Western Australia. δ18O results and historical climate data indicate decreased annual precipitation during occupation of the site and provide insight into the conditions experienced by Aboriginal pearling laborers incarcerated on the offshore island. δ13C values may reflect variation in water availability or a short-term vegetation change resulting from landscape burning. This study is the first application of macropod bone apatite isotopic analysis in an Australian historical context and demonstrates its significant potential for identifying recent environmental changes to a high level of sensitivity.

AB - Stable isotope analysis of bone apatite oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) was undertaken for modern and archaeological spectacled hare wallaby (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) bone collected from an 1880s indentured labor confinement camp on Barrow Island in Western Australia. δ18O results and historical climate data indicate decreased annual precipitation during occupation of the site and provide insight into the conditions experienced by Aboriginal pearling laborers incarcerated on the offshore island. δ13C values may reflect variation in water availability or a short-term vegetation change resulting from landscape burning. This study is the first application of macropod bone apatite isotopic analysis in an Australian historical context and demonstrates its significant potential for identifying recent environmental changes to a high level of sensitivity.

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Macropod Bone Apatite Isotopic Analysis as Evidence for Recent Environmental Change at Bandicoot Bay Pearling Camp, Barrow Island, Australia

Abstract

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Coastal Connections: dynamic societies of Australia's Northwest frontier

The Barrow Island Archaeology Project: the dynamism of maritime societies in northern Australia

Investigating past environments on Barrow Island in North-Western Australia: Stable isotopic analyses of archaeological macropod tissues from late Pleistocene, Holocene, and historical contexts

Cite this

Macropod Bone Apatite Isotopic Analysis as Evidence for Recent Environmental Change at Bandicoot Bay Pearling Camp, Barrow Island, Australia

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Coastal Connections: dynamic societies of Australia's Northwest frontier

The Barrow Island Archaeology Project: the dynamism of maritime societies in northern Australia

Research output

Investigating past environments on Barrow Island in North-Western Australia: Stable isotopic analyses of archaeological macropod tissues from late Pleistocene, Holocene, and historical contexts

Cite this