An Investigation by LA-ICP-MS of Possum Tooth Enamel as a Model for Identifying Childhood Geographical Locations of Historical and Archaeological Human Remains from New Zealand

Authors

  • Nicola E. Cameron Department of Chemistry, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand 3240
  • Megan Balks Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand 3240
  • Ray Littler
  • Merilyn Manley-Harris
  • Ngahuia Te Awekotuku

Keywords:

LA-ICP-MS, tooth enamel, brushtail possum, geographical origin, archaeological remains, New Zealand

Abstract

LA-ICP-MS (laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) has been used to analyse enamel from the teeth of brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) in order to model a method for identifying the childhood geographi- cal origin of human remains within New Zealand. The model application of the method is promising for establishing locations of historical and archaeological human remains, including preserved heads, upoko tuhi.

Author Biographies

Ray Littler

  1. Department of Statistics, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand 3240

Ngahuia Te Awekotuku

  1. Centre for Māori and Pacific Development Research, Univer- sity of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand 3240

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Published

30-12-2011

How to Cite

Cameron, N. E., Balks, M., Littler, R., Manley-Harris, M. and Te Awekotuku, N. (2011) “An Investigation by LA-ICP-MS of Possum Tooth Enamel as a Model for Identifying Childhood Geographical Locations of Historical and Archaeological Human Remains from New Zealand”, Journal of Pacific Archaeology, 3(1), pp. 49–58. Available at: https://pacificarchaeology.org/index.php/journal/article/view/64 (Accessed: 19 April 2024).

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2012)

Section

Articles