Descripción histológica de muestras dentales de odocoileus virginianus zimmermann, 1780 (mammalia: cervidae) mediante microscopio electrónico de barrido (meb-edx)

Abstract

The white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) is a keystone species in archaeological studies due to its ecological and cultural relevance in the Americas, serving as a fundamental resource for pre-Hispanic communities. However, its taxonomic identification and the reconstruction of its dietary patterns present challenges due to limitations in traditional morphological analysis methods. This study seeks to determine the diet of two archaeological samples of O. virginianus from the Muisca period by comparing two techniques: traditional mesowear and quantitative mesowear. Mandibular fragments from the Portal Tunal and Guatavita sites were analyzed and compared with data from modern individuals and grazing herbivores. The results showed that both samples exhibit sharp, high cusps, characteristic of a browsing diet, clearly differentiating them from abrasive grazing diets. The quantitative method demonstrated greater precision by reducing the subjectivity inherent in the traditional approach