New research has revealed that DNA from ancient chewing gum used by Stone Age teenagers in Sweden 10,000 years ago is providing insights into their diet and oral health.
The chewing gum, made from birch bark pitch, was found at the 9,700-year-old Huseby Klev archaeological site in Sweden, and is believed to have been chewed by hunter-gatherers for practical or medicinal purposes.
A recent study has mapped the genetic profile of the individuals who chewed the gum, and researchers have been able to determine the Stone Age diet of the teenagers, which included deer, trout, hazelnuts, apple, duck, and fox.
The DNA found in the gum has also revealed evidence of severe gum infection in one teenage girl, indicating the presence of periodontitis.
The discovery of the ancient chewing gum has provided a unique connection between artifacts, DNA, and human history, shedding new light on the lives of Stone Age teenagers.
2024-01-23 12:25:00
Source from www.theguardian.com