Explotación de recursos en época medieval – análisis del contenido del cálculo dental de la necrópolis de Cal Guardià (VII-IX cal AD; Argentona, Barcelona)

Microscopic analysis of dental calculus’ content from archaeological contexts provides direct information about food consumption, environment and lifestyle of past societies. In the present study we analyse the dental calculus of eight individuals belonging to the early medieval (7th-9th c. AD) necropolis of Cal Guardià (Argentona, Barcelona). The methodology employed consisted in sampling the dental tartar, disaggregating it with acid and observing, through optical microscopy the microremains preserved. The findings were describedand compared through modern reference collections and atlas. Several categories of microdebris, such as starch grains, phytoliths and pollen were found. Taxonomic identification of starch granules and phytoliths points out the consumption of crops, while pollen provides information about the palaeoenvironment. This is the first time that dental calculus analysis was performed in this region targeting a medieval osteological collection. The results are consistent with previous archaeological and archaeobotanical studies. These finds shed new light on the habits and diet of the Catalan medieval communities.