What about the buccal surfaces? Dental microwear texture analysis of buccal and occlusal surfaces refines paleodietary reconstructions

Objectives: This study analyzes and compares dental microwear textures on occlusal and buccal surfaces from the same tooth to determine if using these surfaces in tandem can provide complementary data for dietary reconstructions. Materials and methods: Cova de la Guineu is a Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic burial cave located in Font-Rubí (Barcelona, Spain). The study sample consisted of 69 individuals represented by the lower left second molar. However, only 27 individuals had well-preserved surfaces. Dental Microwear Texture Analysis was performed on both surfaces using a Sensofar® S Neox white-light confocal profilometer following standard procedures. Toothfrax® software was used to quantify surface complexity and anisotropy. Results: The bootstrap resampling analysis shows significant differences in complexity and anisotropy between surfaces. There is no correlation between surfaces for complexity or anisotropy. The occlusal surfaces exhibit high complexities and low anisotropies, which are similar to values observed in Late Neolithic farming groups from Belgium. Discussion: The combination of occlusal and buccal microwear signatures provided important inferences regarding the studied sample. First, occlusal complexity and anisotropy values indicate an abrasive dietary regime. Second, we propose that the higher anisotropy values found on buccal surfaces, compared to those on the occlusal ones, are attributed to the specific mechanisms of microwear formation for each surface. Finally, combining both surfaces may increase the number of samples suitable for analysis. Further studies, with greater intergroup sampling, will help to understand how buccal microwear reflects or complements DMTA signatures on the occlusal surfaces.