The Dietary Significance of Prehistoric Maize in the Northern Andes: An Isotopic Perspective

The dietary significance of maize in various parts of the New World has been the focus of anthropological research into domestication processes and the relationship between agriculture and the development of complex societies. Stable isotope analysis of human bone collagen and apatite reveals the relative contributions of maize, other terrestrial foods, and marine resources to the diet. This paper discusses isotopic data from three prehistoric sites in northern highland Ecuador, providing the first direct evidence for the prehistoric dietary significance of maize in the northern Andes. The results are contrasted with findings from coastal Ecuador, Peru, and other areas.