Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026
07:57
Sampling and Pretreatment of Tooth Enamel Carbonate for Stable Carbon and Oxygen Isotope Analysis
Published on: August 15, 2018
Innovative methods for characterization of old human teeth, applied to Rhinocéros 4 chalcolithic cave (Péret, France)
Alban Desoutter1, Michel Ramonda2, Pierre-Yves Collart-Dutilleul3
1LBN, Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Archives of Oral Biology
|August 4, 2026
Summary
Micro-computed tomography (µCT) and interferometric microscopy characterized Chalcolithic premolars from France. These noninvasive methods revealed enamel thickness, surface roughness, and interglobular dentine, aiding archaeological tooth sample analysis.
Area of Science:
- Paleoanthropology
- Bioarchaeology
- Dental Anthropology
Background:
- Human evolution studies rely on bone and dental remains.
- Chalcolithic mandibular premolars from Rhinocéros 4 cave offer insights into past populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize Chalcolithic mandibular premolars using micro-computed tomography (µCT) and interferometric microscopy.
- To apply nondestructive and noninvasive methods for detailed dental analysis.
Main Methods:
- Ten Chalcolithic mandibular premolars were scanned using micro-tomography.
- Enamel thickness was measured, and buccal enamel surfaces were mapped using optical interferometry to assess surface roughness.
Main Results:
- Average crown height was 7.28 mm, with maximum enamel thickness of 1.39 mm.
- Interglobular dentine was observed in seven samples, and average RMS roughness was 0.67 μm.
Conclusions:
- This pilot study demonstrates the utility of µCT and interferometric microscopy for characterizing archaeological teeth.
- These techniques enhance the study of tooth surface morphology and internal structures for comparative population analyses.
