Biologically, this is explained by individual variation in calculus formation between people. The largest dental calculi have the lowest concentrations of microfossils. Mineral fragments and charcoal are most likely contaminants. The analysis of these shows that there are relatively high concentrations of microfossils (phytoliths and starch), mineral fragments, and charcoal in dental calculus. Sambaquis are shell-mounds of monumental size. We analyzed dental calculus from 53 teeth from four Brazilian sambaquis. There is still a need for a quantitative study of large series of teeth to establish protocols, assess the level of contamination, evaluate the quantity of microfossils in dental calculus, and to compare analysis results with the literature concerning the biology of calculus. The combined analyses of these have provided some general guidelines for the analysis of calculus that is nondestructive to archaeological teeth. To date, small samples of dental calculus have been sampled and analyzed by researchers in diverse parts of the world.
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