The cultivation of maize, squash, and local seeds is evident in the Formative Caddoan period, but intensification and dependence on maize appears only after AD 1200, during the Middle Caddoan period. For example, stable isotope analysis indicates that maize was a significant portion of the Early-Middle Caddoan diet at the Sanders site on the Red River. It has been suggested that after the Middle Caddoan period increases in nonspecific skeletal pathology and evidence nutritional stress are indicative of diets based on significant contribution of maize. With intensive reliance on maize, the Caddo would be susceptible to crop failure, especially in regions such as northeastern Texas where erratic weather patterns result in frequent flooding and drought. More information on Caddoan archaeology Dental Anthropology Analysis of dental remains can provide much information about diet.
Dental attrition is the natural result of a diet high in unprocessed vegetal materials and grit.
Grit is introduced into the diet by a variety of means, including the use of stone grinding tools used to make flour from grains such as maize. The amount of attrition is specified by wear scores. For molars, wear scores are estimated by dividing an individual tooth into quadrants and examining each quadrant for attrition. Based on the degree of attrition, each quadrant is given a value from 0-10, where zero equals no dental wear and 10 equals a total loss of enamel. The quadrant scores are then added together for a value ranging from 0-40 per tooth.