Maize and Sociopolitical Complexity in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru

Exploring imperial expansion using an isotopic analysis of paleodietary and paleomobility indicators in Chachapoyas, Peru

“…Therefore, of this sample only one male and one female had bone values consistent with a more maize based-diet, which suggests, counter to many other Andean isotopic studies of later highland groups, that maize was not the primary food staple in the Chachapoyas region (Burger et al, 2003;Burger & van der Merwe, 1990;Finucane, 2009;Hastorf & Johannessen, 1993). This is likely related to the nature of the vertical topography, temperature changes, and high precipitation where steep slopes, high-altitude, and abundant precipitation (>4000 mm annually) results in agricultural variation restricted to ecological zones and limit maize production to specific lower elevations.…”

“…C 3 plants are more depleted in carbon-13 and, therefore, have values between 218& and 228& (for example in the Andean region, potatoes, quinoa, peanuts, etc.) Andean bioarchaeologists have long focused on identifying the origin and introduction of maize as a food staple, and exploring the shift to maize consumption in all regions during imperial expansions, and chicha (maize beer) consumption during ritual practices (Deniro & Hastorf, 1985;Erickson et al, 1989;Finucane, 2009;Hastorf & Johannessen, 1993). In the Andes, maize is the primary C 4 subsistence food, but there are other less known food resources such as kiwicha (Cadwallader, Beresford-Jones, Whaley, & O'connell, 2012).…”

“…Diets appear regionally differentiated in Peru (Burger, Lee-Thorp, & van der Merwe, 2003;Erickson, West, Sullivan, Krueger, 1989;Tomczak, 2003;Verano & DeNiro, 1993;Williams, 2005), where highland diets are primarily dominated by C 3 foods (potatoes, terrestrial animal protein), while coastal diets are characterized by C 4 and C 4 -like foods (maize, marine protein). Andean bioarchaeologists have long focused on identifying the origin and introduction of maize as a food staple, and exploring the shift to maize consumption in all regions during imperial expansions, and chicha (maize beer) consumption during ritual practices (Deniro & Hastorf, 1985;Erickson et al, 1989;Finucane, 2009;Hastorf & Johannessen, 1993).…”

Provisioning Inka feasts at Tiwanaku, Bolivia: the geographic origins of camelids in the Pumapunku complex

“…In the Andes, both C 4 and C 3 plants are present, and a number of paleodietary studies have been completed in the region (e.g., Falabella, et al, 2008;Finucane, 2009;Hastorf, 1990, Kellner andSchoeninger, 2008;Tykot and Staller, 2002;White et al, 2009). Maize, which is the most common domesticated C 4 plant in the Andes, exhibits a range of light stable carbon isotope values between d 13 C (VPDB) ¼ À10& and d 13 C (VPDB) ¼ À14& in both modern and archaeological samples (DeNiro and Hastorf, 1985;Horn et al, 2009;Tieszen and Chapman, 1992).…”

A multifaceted approach towards interpreting early life experience and infant feeding practices in the ancient Atacama Desert, Northern Chile

“…In the Atacama context, maize is the major C 4 -crop, and there are no endemic C 4 resources. Maize gruel is also well-documented as a weaning food worldwide (Gibson, Ferguson, & Lehrfeld, 1998;Onofiok & Nnanyelugo, 1998), with isotopic evidence for its use throughout the Americas (Buikstra, Konigsberg, & Bullington, 1986;Finucane, 2009).…”