Reconstructing Paleodiets in Ancient North America from Food Residue

Lead by Dr. Matthew Boyd, this SSHRC funded project focuses on the identification and interpretation of maize and other cultivated food remains from archaeological sites on the northern plains and boreal forest regions of Canada.  Food residues extracted from pottery, grinding stones, and soils are being examined for the presence of phytoliths and starch granules, which together provide a very sensitive record of the consumption of the cultivated foods in small-scale societies.  In addition to the identification of cultigens (maize, beans, and squash), we are studying starch and phytolith assemblages from modern plants in order to identify the presence of important wild plant species (e.g., wild rice, berries) in food residue from this region.  Also working with Dr. Boyd on this project are Dr. Scott Hamilton, Clarence Surette, and graduate student Andrew Lints.
 

 
So far,food residues extracted from pottery, grinding stones, and soils from 160 archaeological sites (red stars) have been examined.
 
Phytoliths and Starch granules are extracted from carbonized food residues adhering to the exterior or interior surfaces of pottery sherds.
 
 
 
Z. mays phytolith from carbonized food residue (left), comparative Z. mays phytolith from Mandan corn.
 
 
Some Publications/Papers/Posters from this Project
 
Boyd, M. and Surette, C.
2010  Northernmost precontact maize in North America. American Antiquity 75: 117-133.

Boyd, M. and Surette, C.
2009  The Hidden History of Maize in Boreal North America.  Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
 
Surette, C. and Boyd, M.
2009  Archaeological Evidence of Wild Rice (Zizania spp.) Exploitation from Precontact Sites in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.  Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Hamilton, S., Surette, C., and Syms, E. L.
2009 Analysis of Plant Processing Tools from the Late Pre-Contact Snyder II Site, SW Manitoba.  Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
 
Surette, C. and Boyd, M.
2009 The Identification of Diagnostic Opal Phytolith Morphotypes for Wild Rice (Zizania spp.).  Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Archaeological Association, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Boyd, M.,  Varney, T., Surette, C., and Surette, J.
2008  Reassessing the northern limit of maize consumption in North America: Stable isotope, plant microfossil, and trace element content of carbonized food residue. Journal of Archaeological Science 35: 2545-2556.
 
Hamilton, S., Boyd, M., Nicholson, B.A., and Surette, C.
2007  "How Far North? Assessing the northerly extent of Pre-contact Horticulture in NE Plains."  Poster presented at the Canadian Archaeological Association Annual Meeting, Memorial University, Newfoundland.
 
Surette, C. and Boyd, M.
2007  Wild Rice (Zizania spp.) Identification in Archaeological Contexts: A New Perspective. Poster presented at the Canadian Quaternary Association Annual Meeting, Carleton University, Ottawa.
 
Boyd, M., C. Surette, and B.A. Nicholson
2006  Archaeobotanical Evidence of Prehistoric Maize (Zea mays) Consumption at the Northern Edge of the Great Plains. Journal of Archaeological Science 33:1129-1140.