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Spatially-Resolved Ca Isotopic and Trace Element Variations in Human Deciduous Teeth Record Diet and Physiological Change

Bibliographic Data

ID12653919
AuthorsQiong Li (0000-0002-5658-9614, Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK, corresponding author), Alessia Nava (0000-0002-6319-0425, Sapienza University of Rome, corresponding author), Linda M Reynard (0000-0001-5732-1532, Harvard University), M F Thirlwall (0000-0002-1450-5048, Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK), L Bondioli (0000-0002-8511-7667, Bioarchaeology Service, Museo delle Civiltà, Rome, Italy, corresponding author), Wolfgang Muller (0000-0001-5368-8011, Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume27
Issue5
Pages474-483
Publication date2020-05-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-4103 • E-ISSN: 1749-6314
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14614103.2020.1758988
OpenAlexW3024905578
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited51

Dental enamel represents an important mineralized archive of an individual’s early life. Previously, isotopic (Ca) or trace element ratios (Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca) have been used to reveal dietary and weaning histories, although few studies have utilized both proxies to evaluate the respective results. Here we report histologically-defined, spatially-resolved Ca-isotope (laser-cut & TIMS) and trace element ratio (Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca; LA-ICPMS) profiles along the enamel-dentine-junction in three deciduous dental crowns of three early twentieth century Italian infants (Modern-22, 27, 29). Modern-27 and Modern-29 display overall similar patterns of Ca-isotope variation and reflect an overall increase of >1.0‰ in δ44/40Ca across and after birth. Whilst the Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca signals of Modern-27 suggest a mixed breast-formula feeding, the two elemental proxies in Modern-29 hint at nearly exclusive breastfeeding until ∼4 months, followed by introduction of formula. A ∼0.5‰ δ44/40Ca decrease across and after birth together with Sr/Ca ratios in Modern-22 suggest a dominant breastfeeding history for the first ∼5–8 months. Enamel Ca-isotope data alone are not sufficient to distinguish between breastfed or formula-fed infants. In addition, Ca-isotope profiles in deciduous enamel suggest a connection between prominent physiological stress like birth and negative Ca-isotope excursions, underlining the physiological overprint of Ca-isotope signatures

Biology · Breastfeeding · Deciduous · Deciduous teeth · Enamel paint · Geochemistry · Isotope · Isotopes of strontium · Mineralogy · Pathology · Strontium · Trace element · Bone and Dental Protein Studies · Chemistry · Dentistry · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Indigenous Studies and Ecology · Medicine · Ecology · Geology

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Unique citing works4
Citations per year0,8
Citation span2021 - 2024 (4)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 4
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