Plant Microfossils Recovered from Dental Calculus at Casas Grandes, Mexico

Author(s): Daniel King; Michael Searcy; Kyle Waller

Year: 2016

Summary

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.).

Cite this Record

Plant Microfossils Recovered from Dental Calculus at Casas Grandes, Mexico. Daniel King, Michael Searcy, Kyle Waller. Presented at 2016 Southwest Symposium, Tuscon, Arizona. 2016 ( tDAR id: 401094) ; doi:10.6067/XCV8S1848N

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

Keywords

Culture
Casas Grandes

Material
Dental calculus • Human Remains • Microfossils • Phytolith • Pollen • Starch Grain

Investigation Types
Bioarchaeological Research • Data Recovery / Excavation • Environment Research • Ethnographic Research • Methodology, Theory, or Synthesis

Geographic Keywords
Casa Grande Ruins • Chihuahua (Mexico : State)

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 700 to 1450

Spatial Coverage

min long: -109.468; min lat: 28.999 ; max long: -105.952; max lat: 31.803 ;

File Information

  Name Size Creation Date Date Uploaded Access
SW-Symposium_King-Searcy-Waller.pdf 1.62mb Mar 18, 2016 3:25:22 PM Public