The origins of late nineteenth-century migrant diamond miners uncovered in a salvage excavation in Kimberley, South Africa

Abstract

The metric analysis of phenotypic variation observed in human skeletons is valuable for the determination of biological relatedness or ancestry, particularly when testing specific hypotheses concerning the possible ancestry of individuals from unmarked graves. The purpose of this paper is to determine the possible ancestry of unknown individuals excavated from an area next to the fenced Gladstone Cemetery in Kimberley, South Africa, using cranio-morphometry. The skeletons are thought to be those of migrant diamond mine labourers who died between 1897 and 1900. Two historical statements will be tested: firstly that black labourers came to work in Kimberley from various regions in Africa south of the equator and secondly that the local Khoe-San people did not participate in significant numbers as mine workers. Standard craniometric measurements were taken from 59 well-preserved male crania. These measurements were compared to craniometric data of eight modern and archaeological groups of males of known origin from Africa and Asia. Descriptive as well as univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Eleven craniometric variables were selected for analysis. Results obtained are in accord with the historical documents stating that the majority of labourers at the Kimberley mines were migrant workers and that the local communities (including Khoe-San) did not contribute much to the workforce. Many of the labourers came from elsewhere in southern Africa (e.g. KwaZulu-Natal), but some may have originated from further afield. The heterogeneous nature of the sample reflects the varied origins of workers in Kimberley as well as some possible genetic admixture. This study reiterates the value of craniometric analyses as a tool to determine the probability of ancestry of unknown individuals when viewed in the light of contextual historical information.