Agave Chewing and Dental Wear: Evidence from Quids

Abstract

Agave quid chewing is examined as a potential contributing behavior to hunter-gatherer dental wear. It has previously been hypothesized that the contribution of Agave quid chewing to dental wear would be observed in communities wherever phytolith-rich desert succulents were part of subsistence. Previous analysis of coprolites from a prehistoric agricultural site, La Cueva de los Muertos Chiquitos in Durango, Mexico, showed that Agave was a consistent part of a diverse diet. Therefore, quids recovered at this site ought to be useful materials to test the hypothesis that dental wear was related to desert succulent consumption. The quids recovered from the site were found to be largely derived from chewing Agave. In this study, the quids were found to be especially rich in phytoliths, and analysis of dental casts made from impressions left in the quids revealed flat wear and dental attrition similar to that of Agave-reliant hunter-gatherers. Based on evidence obtained from the analysis of quids, taken in combination with results from previous studies, it is determined that Agave quid chewing was a likely contributing factor to dental wear in this population. As such, our method provides an additional avenue of dental research in areas where quids are present.

Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Enterobius vermicularis (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) in the Prehistoric Americas

“…More recent studies present further evaluations of how infection would have occurred in crowded conditions in large villages and towns [5,29,36,41,42]. One distinct difference between caves and open villages is the fact that airflow is limited within the confines of a cave.…”

“…Fugassa and colleagues [36] found a high (18%) infection level for coprolites excavated from Antelope Cave, Mojave County, Arizona. This cave was used for storage and seasonal rabbit hunting.…”

“…Dietary analysis of 50 coprolites showed a diverse array of foods, and each coprolite was distinct in its macroscopic and microscopic constituents [36]. Meade observed pinworm eggs in his study of dietary residues.…”

Assessing the Archaeoparasitological Potential of Quids As a Source Material for Immunodiagnostic Analyses

“…These artifacts are frequently overlooked despite their potential importance in the interpretation of ancient diets and diseases. Quid analyses have involved plant fiber identification, dental impressions, and phytolith recovery [16–19]. Such studies have examined the role of quid chewing in the development of dental wear among archaeological populations.…”

“…Such studies have examined the role of quid chewing in the development of dental wear among archaeological populations. Hammerl and colleagues [19] were also able to use dental impressions of quids to recover demographic (age) data. The quids were all phytolith-rich and most were derived from Agave plant fibers, although maize leaves and husks were also identified among some of the quids [19].…”