engleski

Dental microwear texture analysis as a tool for discerning intra-population dietary patterns: Evidence from the Croatian Copper Age site of Potočani

Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) is a dietary reconstruction method typically used for interspecies comparisons. More recently, DMTA has been employed as a tool for discerning differences in human subsistence patterns, but its utility in detecting intra-population dietary variation has been little explored. This study utilized dental remains of 37 individuals from the Croatian Copper Age site of Potočani (cca 4100 BCE) to investigate dietary patterning according to age and sex within the population. Standard DMTA procedures were followed to observe phase II wear facets on the occlusal molar surfaces. The three texture variables, calculated using scale- sensitive fractal analysis software (Sfrax® and Toothfrax®), included complexity (Asfc), anisotropy (epLsar), and textural fill volume (Tfv). As a whole, results indicate relatively high anisotropy values for the individuals from Potočani (x̄=.0031) signifying considerable consumption of fibrous, homogenous foods and consistent with the farming of domesticates. Complexity values for the population are also elevated (x̄=2.313) suggesting a hard or gritty diet consistent with the exploitation of wild or seasonally available foods such as nuts or berries. Overall, DMTA signatures from Potočani indicate a diet rich in farmed domesticates along with substantial supplementation of wild resources. Further investigation into sex-based variation in diet indicate that adult males consumed a harder more heterogeneous diet than adult females who ate a softer more fibrous diet, while age-based analyses indicate that sub-adults show a moderately hard and fibrous diet. These analyses indicate that DMTA is an effective tool for discerning fine-scale dietary patterns within bioarchaeological populations.

Potočani ; Croatia ; Copper Age ; microwear analysis

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