Human bones and teeth from 37 burials on Motupore Island, Papua New Guinea have been analyzed for 14 major and minor elements by x-ray fluorescence and x-ray diffraction spectrometry. The bones, but not the teeth, were shown to be physically contaminated with significant quantities of quartz, calcite, and clay. Compared to bone, the teeth contained lower concentrations of the minor elements aluminum, iron, strontium, sulfur, barium and zinc; similar concentrations of sodium, potassium, magnesium, and copper; and a higher concentration of chlorine. The bones and teeth were all enriched in strontium, magnesium, and barium which is thought to be due to the high dietary intake of shellfish in the population. -- AATA