Greater carbon fractionation in the mouth is likely due to the complex formation of dental calculus as a mineralized biofilm, which results in consistently high δ 13C values compared to bone and enamel. Our results support dental calculus carbonate as a new biomaterial to identify C 4 sugar through isotope analysis. The offset between dental calculus and either bone or enamel carbonate δ 13C values is large and consistent in direction, with no consistent offset between the δ 13C values for the three tissues per individual. Clear differences in dental calculus δ 13C values are observed between the modern and archaeological individuals suggesting potential for utilising dental calculus in isotope palaeodiet studies. The modern population shows higher δ 13C values in all three tissue carbonates compared to both archaeological populations. Using a Sercon 20-22 mass spectrometer coupled with a Sercon GSL sample preparation system and an IsoPrime 100 dual inlet mass spectrometer plus Multiprep device to measure carbon, we tested the potential of dental calculus carbonate to identify C 4 resources in diet through analysis of δ 13C values in paired bone, calculus and teeth mineral samples. We utilised Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance analysis to characterise the composition and crystallisation of bone and dental calculus before isotope analysis of carbonate. Therefore, dental calculus carbonates may be an indicator for sugar consumption, and an alternative to bone carbonate in isotopic palaeodiet studies. We hypothesise that the carbonate component of dental calculus will reflect the isotopic composition of ingested simple carbohydrates. Dental calculus (mineralised dental plaque) is composed primarily of hydroxyapatite.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |