Plant Microfossils Recovered from Dental Calculus at Casas Grandes, Mexico

Microfossil analysis is a technique used to better understand prehistoric diets. As part of a larger multinational project, we gathered and analyzed 112 samples of dental calculus (fossilized plaque) from human remains discovered at Paquimé and other sites in the Casas Grandes river valley to identify various microfossils still present in the silica matrix. With this information, we are able to better understand the flora present during ancient times and how it was used (food, processing, etc.).

微体化石分析（Microfossil analysis）是一种用于深入探究史前饮食结构的研究技术。作为一项大型跨国研究项目的组成部分，我们从帕基梅（Paquimé）及卡萨格兰德斯河谷（Casas Grandes river valley）其他遗址出土的人类遗骸中，采集并分析了112份牙石（dental calculus，即石化牙菌斑）样本，以识别硅质基质中残存的各类微体化石。依托上述分析结果，我们能够更全面地认知古代的植物区系，以及古人类对其的多种利用途径，包括用作食物、加工原料等场景。