New insights into the consumption of maize and other food plants in the pre-Columbian Caribbean from starch grains trapped in human dental calculus

► First Caribbean region wide study of ancient starch grains from human dental calculus. ► Approach geared toward exposing past human activity on an individual level. ► New grinding experiments support findings and advance development in the field. ► New understanding of maize consumption in the pre-Columbian Caribbean. ► New understanding of staple food consumption in the pre-Columbian Caribbean.