Analyzing tooth tartar to learn about ancient drug use

Tooth tartar may give clues about the use of drugs by ancient people. Looking at tartar, which can survive on fossils for more than 1 million years, is already a common archaeological method to study past diets. Now, Aarhus University forensic dentist Dorthe Bindslev and colleagues are using a similar technique to analyze tooth tarter for evidence of drugs. — Read the rest