Technique and Application in Dental Anthropology: Dental microwear analysis: historical perspectives and new approaches

摘要: Introduction Diet is widely recognized as the single most important parameter underlying behavioral and ecological differences among living animals. Bioarchaeologists paleontologists reconstruct diets of past peoples extinct animals for what they can teach us about matters ranging from health status individuals to adaptations evolution species. Dental microwear analysis effective ways inferring fossil This approach involves study microscopic patterns use-wear on teeth applicable a broad range species, giving direct record an individual ate during its lifetime. Researchers have decades that foods with given material properties leave characteristic scratches pits in molar humans other Foods requiring distinct types or levels ingestive behavior also wear incisor teeth. Our understandings relationships between dental diet/subsistence improving each passing year new methods are developed investigators continue expand number variety samples examined. In this chapter we summarize one method, texture analysis, offer some data illustrate potential approach. We briefly review seminal studies conducted over half century put work into historical context.