@article {11248,
	title = {Searching for Evidence of Maize Consumption at Cluny: Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotope Analysis of Dog and Bison Bone Collagen},
	volume = {40},
	year = {2016},
	pages = {319{\textendash}331},
	abstract = {<p>The Cluny Fortified Village Site (EePf-1), a Protocontact site (A.D. 1400{\textendash} 1750), has been assigned to the One Gun phase of southern Alberta. While culturally distinct, certain aspects of ceramic decoration and fortification construction are similar to counterparts in the Northeastern Plains Village complex (Toom 2004). Northeastern Plains Village complex sites represent maize horticulturalists in portions of North Dakota, and parts of southern Manitoba and are considered to be an archaeological culture separate from but contiguous with Middle Missouri tradition villages of the Dakotas (Toom 2004). Due to general similarities with maize horticultural cultures to the south and east, it is reasonable to look for evidence of maize at Cluny where it may have been grown, or present as a trade item. The present study addresses this question using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of archaeological bone collagen. No human remains were found at Cluny, so bone collagen from dogs was used as a proxy. Bone collagen from bison was also analysed because bison feed on both C<sub>3</sub> and C<sub>4</sub> grasses, and therefore consumption of bison by dogs may result in stable carbon isotope ratios that mimic maize consumption. Bison remains had a predominantly C<sub>3</sub> plant signature. Dogs at Cluny were consuming little or no maize based on stable isotope analysis of their collagen. Based on the canine surrogacy approach, these results indicate that maize was not a significant part of the diet at Cluny, so while some cultural characteristics of the site reflect a Northeastern Plains Village affiliation, diet is not one of them.</p>},
	author = {Kim Edwards and Dale Allen Walde and M. Anne Katzenberg}
}
