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Dental Detectives Study Fossil Teeth to Understand Human Diets
Initial analysis of fossils discovered at Ol Duvai gorge in Tanzania suggested that early humans ate nuts. Recent studies using more refined technology have revealed that they had a varied diet.
Key takeaways:
- Teeth are preserved very well when fossilized and hold lots of information in the form of isotopes. Newer and more advanced techniques have helped to study teeth.
- Thick enamel on the molars indicates that they were used for crushing foods such as grinding seeds or crushing the marrow out of bones.
- Dental microwear refers to the marks left behind by food on teeth that result from food particles being dragged across and pressed into our teeth.
Teeth from more recent fossils reveal more because they have more isotopes preserved in them. For example, the nitrogen in the teeth of Neanderthals can reveal whether the protein they ate came from plants or animals.
Read the full story here
Posted by adwords on 28th October 2016, under Miscellaneous
Dr. Kishanie Wijesinghe Little BDSDr. Kishanie Little is passionate about delivering excellent dentistry and dental restorations that are life-like and indistinguishable from natural teeth. She believes that restorations (fillings/crowns/veneers) should look beautiful – and that they should last. Dr. Little keeps abreast of new developments in restorative dentistry through post-graduate training.
Dr. Little is also an experienced Facial Aesthetistician, including Botulinum toxins (such as Botox) and Dermafillers. She appreciates how simple and subtle changes to smooth and relax muscles can “freshen” a face, to look younger.
In her personal time, she loves to cook, read, run, practice yoga and pilates, play a bad game of tennis and am now learning to play golf. She loves Art and Theatre and support the Tate Modern. She also enjoys writing and has a book in the works.
