Distinguishing dietary indicators of pastoralists and agriculturists via dental microwear texture analysis

Abstract

The current study employs dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) to discern dietary differences between groups of archaeologically derived pastoralists and agriculturists. The study followed standard DMTA methods and is part of an ongoing research effort called the DENTALWEAR project, which is a global survey of microwear texture in ancient humans. The texture variables studied herein were complexity (Asfc), anisotropy (epLsar), and textural fill volume. The study found statistically significant differences between the pastoralists and agriculturists for all three variables; as predicted, the pastoralists had lower values. In addition to demonstrating the efficacy of DMTA for dietary study in ancient humans, this study supports models indicating mitigated microwear texture values for populations thought to have consumed high levels of meat.