Diet and Dietary Variation at Prehistoric Casas Grandes, Mexico (original) (raw)

The prehistoric site of Paquimé, also called Casas Grandes, was a major ritual, economic, and agricultural centre in northern Mexico during the Medio period (1200-1450 CE). Social differentiation also became more pronounced during this time, as mortuary treatments and styles show. To assess whether social differentiation is associated with dietary patterns, the stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen from collagen, and the stable carbon isotope ratios from tooth enamel were analyzed. These data were then compared to the variables of local or non-local origin, cultural period, age, sex, and mortuary evidence for high status. The results are complicated but provide unique insights into diet and dietary practices. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values at Casas Grandes are similar to those from other semi-arid sites in the prehistoric American Southwest and Northern Mexico, as well as sites from further south in Mexico and Mesoamerica. Diets initially appeared to vary isot...