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ABSTRACT
Previous investigation of health and lifestyle in the Mariana Islands indicated that the prehistoric inhabitants living on the smaller islands of this archipelago experienced more stress than those living on the larger islands. This article expands on previous research by using one of the largest datasets (N = 385) now available for examining the health of prehistoric skeletons from the Mariana Islands. A total of 13 indicators of health are investigated, including cribra orbitalia, linear enamel hypoplasia, stature, trauma, infection, and dental disease. There is considerable inter-island variability for many of the indicators but, in general, the highest frequencies of stress are often associated with skeletons from the smaller islands. The sole exception is Rota, the smallest island that reveals levels of stress similar to Guam, the largest island. For several indicators (e.g., stature, long bone fracture, spondylolysis, alveolar defect) there were no significant differences among islands. Cultural habits such as chewing areca (betel) nut, environmental factors, and other cultural differences are examined to explain these differences.