The role of teeth in human evolution

Abstract

A review of recent insights into palaeodiets provided by new dating techniques, spectroscopy and attritional wear of enamel in ancient and recent human fossils. Fossilised dental plaque reveals changing dietary content and varying oral microbiota between Neolithic and Industrial era populations. DNA analysis of ancient dental pulpal tissue provides evidence of contemporary hereditary relationships and gene flow of human populations. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.