Neanderthals, trees and dental calculus: new evidence from El Sidrón. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Radini, Anita; Buckley, Stephen; Rosas, Antonio; Estalrrich, Almudena; de la Rasilla, Marco; Hardy, Karen
• Is Part Of: Antiquity. Volume 90:Number 350(2016)
• Page Start: 290
• Page End: 301
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Spain, -- El Sidrón, -- Neanderthals, -- dental calculus, -- wood, -- conifer, -- microscopy, -- gas chromatography, -- mass spectrometry; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Antiquities -- Periodicals; 930.05
• DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2016.21
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-598X

Abstract

Abstract: Abstract : Analysis of dental calculus is increasingly important in archaeology, although the focus has hitherto been on dietary reconstruction. Non-edible material has, however, recently been extracted from the dental calculus of a Neanderthal population from the 49 000-year-old site of El Sidrón, Spain, in the form of fibre and chemical compounds that indicate conifer wood. Associated dental wear confirms that the teeth were being used for non-dietary activities. These results highlight the importance of dental calculus as a source of wider biographical information, and demonstrate the need to include associated data within research, in particular tooth wear, to maximise this valuable resource.