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The analysis of potential sources of bias in archaeological skeletal samples has received an increasing amount of attention over the last several decades. In addition to the continuing discussions of differential preservation, curation biases, and problems with age and sex estimation, new questions have recently arisen regarding the very nature of skeletal samples as reflections of the populations from which they are derived. Some of the most interesting of these discussions have been instigated by the now famous 'Osteological Paradox' article (Wood et al. 1992). Although this article raises fascinating questions about our ability to reconstruct populations from the remains of their dead, one large potential confounder was apparently overlooked: the effects of temporally specific environmental stressors on a population. Because most cemeteries are aggregate samples, with an accumulation of several generations which are indistinguishable from each other, such effects are usually not measurable. In this study, we take advantage of a unique skeletal collection to begin to address the question of how much lesion frequency can be attributed to secular trends and unique environmental circumstances. In this study, a sample of 64 individuals with relatively complete anterior dentitions from the site of Herculaneum was assessed for enamel hypoplastic defects. The individuals from Herculaneum were all killed simultaneously, on August 24th, 79 A.D. in the documented eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. This unique situation allowed us to determine the approximate year in which each hypoplastic defect was formed, and draw conclusions based on our estimates of the age at death of each individual. The data indicate that there is indeed a secular trend apparent, with younger individuals displaying a much lower frequency of hypoplasias than older ones. Because this is precisely the reverse of the effect usually observed in cemeteries, where individuals with multiple hypoplasias have a lower age at death on average, the results are striking. The implications for the future study of more conventional cemetery samples is clear. A new potentially pervasive source of bias has been identified, and the impact of secular trends and singular historical environmental circumstances must now be more fully addressed in the study of archaeological skeletons.

Living on Ambergris Caye, off of the northeastern coast of Belize, the Postclassic Maya inhabitants of Marco Gonzalez and San Pedro hosted centers of maritime trade in Central America. Both sites had strong cultural ties to the inland ceremonial center of Lamanai, yet little is known of how coastal living may have affected the health of their occupants. This paper uses evidence of linear enamel hypoplastic (LEH) defects to evaluate whether juvenile health at these coastal sites was experienced differentially compared to other Maya centers located on the mainland. An examination of 81 individuals and 1236 teeth from Marco Gonzalez and San Pedro indicated that juvenile health at these sites was relatively good by ancient Maya standards. Eighty-three per cent of individuals at these sites manifested LEH defects of the permanent dentition, a comparatively low ancient Maya value. The fact that these coastal sites share a lack of sex and age-at-death differences, as well as a similar age of peak LEH formation with mainland sites helps to narrow down the key factors influencing the appearance of better juvenile health along the coast. Evidence regarding the ethnohistory, archaeology, palaeopathology, stature, and diet of these skeletal samples support the LEH data discussed here. As suggested by the LEH data presented, and despite sharing cultural norms with their mainland trading-partners, something unique to the coastal environment benefited childhood health on the . Cayes. Possible factors (e.g. marine diet) influencing juvenile health along the coast will be discussed in the hopes that regional variation and adaptation to coastal environments will be better understood for Maya groups just prior to Spanish contact. Supported in part by SSHRC fellowship #752-2000-1192.