Bananas stuck between ancient teeth shed light on Oceania's first settlers

Evidence of banana seeds, leaves and stems in the tartar build up on the teeth of the initial colonists of remote Oceania, suggests they were both plant cultivators and foragers who adapted to and modified their environments, according to NZ and Australian research. The researchers looked at the minute mineral particles from plants that were deposited in the teeth tartar of the ancient Lapita people of Vanuatu, who colonised the area around 3,350–3,150 years ago. They found lots of evidence of palm-type plants, tree or shrub plants and grasses, along with some evidence of banana plants. They say this provides direct evidence for the importance of forests and arboriculture during the settlement of Remote Oceania.