The Utility of Dog Bone (Canis Familiaris) In Stable Isotope Studies for Investigating the Presence of Prehistoric Maize (Zea Mays Ssp. Mays): A Preliminary Study

Abstract

This preliminary study investigates an alternative method to exploring and understanding the presence of maize ( Zea mays ssp. mays) in prehistoric human settlement areas using stable isotope ratios from dog ( Canis familiaris) bone as a surrogate to human bone. Using this methodology, this pilot study aims to begin to provide insight into the presence and prominence of maize within the subsistence economies of 2 prehistoric populations in coastal New Jersey—an area where some researchers argue people relied little upon this tropical domesticate. The third sample included in this study is from a prehistoric population in Pennsylvania where cultivation and consumption of maize have been evidenced by macrobotanical remains and stable isotope analyses on human bone. Data derived from this project offers the potential to provide new insight into the distribution of maize into the coastal regions of the Middle Atlantic, as well as enhance our understanding of the diversity of applications for stable isotope analyses in the investigation of human subsistence patterns.