AI reads 3D tooth microwear to reconstruct diets of early human ancestors

The study of dental microwear allows the analysis of the microscopic marks that foods leave on the surface of tooth enamel during mastication. In paleoanthropology, this methodology helps reconstruct the diet of fossil primates and hominins throughout human evolution. The microscopic striations in dental enamel are like microscopic archives that reveal whether the diet was rich in foods with softer or more abrasive components. Now, a study published in the journal Scientific Reports presents an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-based methodology for identifying 3D wear patterns consistently and independently of the analyst.