Our team at University College Dublin recovered a large quantity of pollen from ELS215’s calculus. The pollen is from a plant of the carrot family (Apiaceae), which comprises many herbs and edible roots that were used for food, seasoning and medicinal remedies. We are currently investigating the historical uses of this family of plants to narrow down the identification and to investigate if the micro debris in her mouth was from the consumption of medicine, perhaps in the form of tea.

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Even more suggestive is the discovery of micro-particles of Cannabis sativa (hemp), which was used in the Middle Ages for pain relief. Our proteomics team at the University of Torino also detected the very same plant, offering the first cross-method identification of plant matter. 

Proteomics is form of biomolecular archaeology and allows us to study the invisible, molecular traces of proteins and metabolites preserved in dental calculus.

We use proteomics to generate a rich record of dietary habits, health conditions, and overall adaptation to the environment through the composition of the oral microbiome.

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Stable isotope analysis on the enamel of one of ELS215's molars will provide direct evidence of her lifetime dietary habits and long-term nutritional status.

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Check back for more results!