Dental evidence for wild tuber processing among Titicaca Basin foragers 7000 ybp

Abstract

Tooth wear rates, molar wear plane, and caries rates are consistent with terrestrial foraging and a diverse diet. The presence of LSAMAT indicates tuber processing. The results therefore contribute critical new data toward our understanding of forager diet in the Altiplano prior to plant and animal domestication in the south-central Andes.

The genetic prehistory of the Andean highlands 7000 years BP though European contact

“…5A and table S4). MGAM is an intestinal enzyme associated with starch digestion ( 31 ) and could possibly be linked to the intensification of tuber use and ultimately the transition to agriculture ( 7 , 32 ). The second strongest signal came from the gene DST , which encodes a cytoskeleton linker protein active in neural and muscle cells ( 33 ).…”

Root grooves on two adjacent anterior teeth ofAustralopithecus africanus

“…Another archaeological example described by Watson and Haas (2017;see their Fig. 7) is also akin to that described herein.…”

“…Shallow labial depressions/grooves are present on some roots of anterior mandibular teeth in a group of prehistoric foragers, though in association with LSAMAT, i.e., lingual surface attrition of the maxillary anterior teeth Turner, 1987, 1997). This finding led Watson and Haas (2017) to suggest oral processing of tubers yielded both types of lesions. Tubers are variably acidic, and gingival and alveolar recession may result from stripping and consuming them in a raw state.…”

“…it results from non-masticatory contact of an object with the teeth, and on occasion may relate to cultural or therapeutic behaviour (e.g., Turner and Cacciatore, 1998;Ungar et al, 2001;Novak, 2015;Estalrrich et al, 2016). Dental corrosion, or erosion as it is more commonly called, has been extensively researched in modern (e.g., Zero, 1996;Aubry et al, 2003;Oginni et al, 2003;Grippo et al, 2004) and archaeological human dentitions (e.g., Robb et al, 1991;Indriati and Buikstra, 2001;Ritter et al, 2009;Watson and Haas, 2017). It occurs through the chemical dissolution of dental tissues by acids of non-bacterial origin and can be caused by a range of factors, most notably low pH diets (Indriati and Buikstra, 2001;Oginni et al, 2003;Ritter et al, 2009;Watson and Haas, 2017).…”

“…Dental corrosion, or erosion as it is more commonly called, has been extensively researched in modern (e.g., Zero, 1996;Aubry et al, 2003;Oginni et al, 2003;Grippo et al, 2004) and archaeological human dentitions (e.g., Robb et al, 1991;Indriati and Buikstra, 2001;Ritter et al, 2009;Watson and Haas, 2017). It occurs through the chemical dissolution of dental tissues by acids of non-bacterial origin and can be caused by a range of factors, most notably low pH diets (Indriati and Buikstra, 2001;Oginni et al, 2003;Ritter et al, 2009;Watson and Haas, 2017). Abfraction is the term used to describe tissue breakdown in the cervical region of teeth as a result of extreme occlusal loading from mastication, bruxism, or malocclusion (Lee and Eakle, 1984;Grippo, 1991;Grippo et al, 2012).…”