A comparison between pre- and post-colonial health in the northern parts of South Africa, a preliminary study

When analysing skeletons to assess the health status of the inhabitants of a particular archaeological site, the aim is to obtain an impression of their general well-being and adaptation. In this paper data from skeletons from various sites were pooled, in an attempt to get an overview on health changes throughout the Iron Age and post-colonial era in the northern part of SA. Skeletons were divided into four groups: Early Iron Age, circa-Mapungubwe period, Late Iron Age but before 1830, and post-1830. These groups were compared as far as their demographic profiles, incidence of cribra orbitalia, diagnosable infectious diseases and signs of trauma were concerned. Unfortunately the skeletal sample is small, but it seems as though the health status after contact with white settlers remained unchanged for a long time, and may even have worsened. Signs of trauma increased in later years, which may reflect the unstable situation resulting from the difeqane, white settlement, and the Second Anglo-Boer War.