Buccal dental microwear as a dietary indicator in the Iron Age human population from Son Real, Spain

Abstract

Dental microwear has been studied in a sample of 26 individuals from Son Real, Mallorca (Spain). These individuals fall into the Iron Age; this is well recognized as Talayotic culture in Balearic Islands' periodization (7th to 6th century BC). Moulds of their molars and premolars were made and observed at 100× magnification in secondary electrons mode of scanning electron microscopy. The length, orientation and density of these striations have been analyzed with the image analysis software SigmaScan Pro 5.0. Results obtained from this sample were compared with previous studies from various modern hunter-gatherers, pastoralists, and agriculturists with different diets (Inuits, Fueguians, Bushmen, Australian aborigines, Andamanese, Indians from Vancouver, Veddahs, Tasmanians, Lapps, and Hindus) (Lalueza et al. 1996). The buccal microwear pattern in Son Real shows similarities with Bushmen, Tasmanians, and Veddahs, both from tropical and arid climates. The reconstruction of the dietary strategy of the Son Real population suggests that they were heavily depending on abrasive plant foods, with a reduced amount of meat intake; a significant difference in food gaining and processing by gender has been deduced as well.