Dietary change and the effects of food preparation on microwear patterns in the Late Neolithic of abu Hureyra, northern Syria

Comparison of the microwear features created on the occlusal surfaces of molar teeth from different cultural horizons at abu Hureyra, northern Syria, indicates that the hardness of the food eaten changed profoundly after the introduction of domestic cereal grains at the beginning of the Neolithic (Neolithic 2A), and again after the introduction of pottery in Neolithic 2C times. Comparison with the microwear features on the teeth of human groups known to eat cooked food demonstrated the identity of the microwear on the abu Hureyra teeth from the pottery levels with those who had eaten cooked food. It is suggested that the evidence for an increase in the population in Neolithic 2C times is a direct consequence of changes in food preparation techniques.