In this article, Henry et al. conducted research on the diet of the Australopithecus sediba. The authors conducted the first extraction of plant phytoliths from dental calculus of two early hominins. They argue that the hominins consumed C3 foods, even though they had access to a variety of C4 foods. The authors state that this consumption of C3 foods increases the amount of previously known sources of early hominid foods. The researchers measured the carbon isotope compositions of the Australopithecus sediba by using laser ablation isotope ratio mass spectrometry. They analysed the molars of the specimens using dental microwear texture analysis. The researchers explain that the calculi from the buccal surfaces of the teeth examined were
