A renowned bioarchaeologist who has attended both national and international appointments, Danielle Kurin served as an assistant professor and later tenured associate professor of bioarcheology with the University of California, Santa Barbara. Danielle Kurin published papers were cited in several archaeological journal articles and book chapters. One of her areas of focus is diet and dietary changes in ancient cities.
The enamel that encases a tooth is made up of 97 percent mineral, which adds strength to the teeth and makes them stronger than bones. For this reason, teeth may be disproportionately prevalent in archaeological sites as compared to bone remains - especially in very old archeological sites. Almost every feature and part of a tooth, including the shape, enamel thickness, and surface, can provide important clues about the early life of people in the prehistoric periods. One such breakthrough in archeological findings, published recently, provided answers to some mysteries about prehistoric hunters of the stone age. By conducting a procedural study on ancient teeth of the mesolithic (stone age) hunter-gatherers of the Croatian Peninsula, scientists discovered microfossils of fish flesh, fish scales, and starch granules in dental plaques. This is a strong piece of evidence that the people of those days foraged on starchy plants and caught fish. Perhaps the scale microfossils could mean that they removed scales from fish with their teeth.
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AuthorDanielle Kurin - Award-Winning Educator and Researcher. Archives
June 2023
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