The Claim
High levels of abrasive microwear observed in Homo antecessor dental remains are consistent with dietary consumption of grit-laden foods, such as soil-contaminated underground plant parts or bone marrow extraction, rather than diet dominated by meat, due to the lower abrasiveness of meat compared to phytoliths or quartz particles.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Dental wear patterns in Homo antecessor suggest their diet included gritty foods like underground plants contaminated with soil or bone marrow, rather than primarily meat, because meat causes less wear than plant silica or quartz particles.
See the scientific wording
The presence of high levels of abrasive microwear in Homo antecessor is consistent with the consumption of grit-laden foods, potentially from soil-contaminated underground plant parts or bone marrow extraction, rather than from meat alone, as meat itself is less abrasive than phytoliths or quartz particles.
When food contains hard, gritty particles like dirt or plant silica, chewing grinds these particles against the outer surface of teeth, leaving tiny scratches that build up over time. These scratches are not caused by meat, which is softer, but by harder materials that scrape the tooth enamel with each bite, creating a lasting record of what was eaten.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: The diet of the first Europeans from Atapuerca
The study found that ancient human teeth had scratches caused by gritty dirt stuck to roots or bones, not by meat, because dirt particles are harder and scratch teeth more than food itself.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.