Multimodal Exploration of Ancient Teeth Dentin Microanatomy Using Traditional and High-Resolution Imaging Techniques

The analysis of microstructural and micromorphological features of dental tissues in archaeological remains has provided a detailed insight into various biological variables related to the life history of ancient populations, such as developmental mechanisms, stress events and dietary habits. With Virtual Anthropology’s advent, high-resolution technologies for the non-invasive acquisition of morphostructural information from odontoskeletal remains has led to a continuous search for new methods and instruments. Recently, the use of high-field Magnetic Resonance Micro-imaging (µMRI) techniques has allowed the visualization of water-filled porous matrix features at the microscopic level using a negative contrast technique, exploiting the strong resonance signal provided by proton properties in the fluid. This study proposes a multimodal approach using high-resolution imaging techniques, complemented by conventional histology, to visualize the microanatomy of dentin tissue in a sample of isolated permanent human canines from the Neolithic site of Arlit (Niger) and the Bronze Age necropolis of Olmo di Nogara (Verona, Italy). The samples were scanned using µMRI system operating at high magnetic field (9.4T), X-ray microscopy system (XRM) for microtomographic acquisition, and finally sectioned for histological analysis. The proposed investigation aims to test a new examination protocol for identifying dentin tissue microstructures in samples from archaeological contexts using innovative and established methods, potentially expanding the currently available options for the analysis of human dental remains.