Virtual histology of archeological and fossil human teeth by microimaging NMR

The study of archaeological and fossil teeth provides fundamental information on the biology, health, and developmental history of past populations. In this context, the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microimaging emerges as an innovative and complementary technique to traditional X-ray microtomography with CT or synchrotron radiation. Unlike X-ray methods, NMR microimaging offers a different visualization by revealing fine details of dentine microstructures, including growth lines, microtubules, the dentine-enamel junction, and morpho-functional features, allowing precise reconstructions of tooth development. In addition, NMR allows the identification of non-specific pathological markers, which are crucial for the diagnosis of non-specific diseases and stress episodes. These results highlight the value of NMR microimaging as a powerful tool for virtual histology of teeth, providing complementary data that improve our ability to analyze and interpret the biological and cultural history preserved in ancient teeth. We will show results obtained from teeth of Homo Erectus (1 million years ago), Neolithic (6000 BC), Gravettian (20,000 BC), Neanderthal (40,000 BC), and modern teeth obtained with both micro CT and NMR microimaging. The results are validated by histology.