Methodological implications of intra- and inter-facet microwear texture variation for human childhood paleo-dietary reconstruction: Insights from the deciduous molars of extant and medieval children from France
Year: 2020
Type: article
Abstract: The present study concerns occlusal dental microwear texture variation on the deciduous molars of children. A description and evaluation of microwear texture variation within facet 9 and a comparison of microwear textures between grinding facets 9 and 11 are presented. The relationship between wear facet surface area and intra-facet microwear texture variability is evaluated. The sample is composed of naturally-exfoliated, taphonomy-free deciduous second molars from twelve extant children and four archaeologically-derived medieval children (for a total of 51 surface measurements). Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) was performed using a confocal microscope and scale-sensitive fractal analysis (SSFA) at three standardized locations on facet 9, and one location on facet 11. Facet shape was visually assessed and scored using a headset magnifier (3×) and composite images (20× confocal microscopy). Individuals were assigned to two groups based on a qualitative assessment of facet surface area. Microwear texture variability within facet 9 was high relative to the variability of microwear textures between individuals. No significant inter-facet variation between facets 9 and 11 was detected. No clear differences in microwear and variabilities within facet 9 were found between individuals assigned to small and large facet groups. Our study shows the existence of important intra-facet microwear variation in a sample of children. Intra-facet microwear variation can affect the ability of DMTA to distinguish between diets in contexts with small sample sizes and subtle differences in diet – such as those characterizing dietary transitions in children. Results also suggest non-dietary factors may influence microwear formation during dental exfoliation. A better understanding of intra-facet microwear variation, and when and how to account for it, can improve the application of occlusal DMTA in similar contexts.
Institutions: Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Oriental and European Archaeology, Medical University of Vienna, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Bordeaux, University of Kent, De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel : Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie, Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, University of Coimbra
Language: English
Subfield: Archeology (arts and humanities)
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $1,250
Funders: European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, European Research Council, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Horizon 2020, European Regional Development Fund, H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Awards: G1612579100, G2025007194, Integrative Approaches to Dental Wear: Non-Masticatory Tooth-Use Across the Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition Among Iberian Foraging and Farming Societies, G2189472788, G2596785601, G264484668, G285994706, G3060405517, G3079617284, G3295858231, G3345895242, Evolution of cell mechanisms underlying human dental reduction in Europe, G4131582275, Evolution of cell mechanisms underlying human dental reduction in Europe, G434337789, Using the world in ancient societies : processes and forms of appropriation of space in Long Time, G490073602, G4937468798, G5016914647, G504025110, G5237714278, G5873723878, G6329715174, G6361099255, G7003094398, G7240651115, G7358480839, G7376787254, Integrative Approaches to Dental Wear: Non-Masticatory Tooth-Use Across the Mesolithic-Neolithic Transition Among Iberian Foraging and Farming Societies, G8512683158, G8919877275
OpenAlex ID: W3015361966