Abstract

Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of dog bone from the site of Namu on the central coast of British Columbia is used to verify transitions in human diet inferred from zooarchaeological evidence. Faunal evidence shows a specific sequence of changes including increasing use of shellfish and an increase, peak, and subsequent decline in the proportion of salmon in the diet. Unlike human skeletal remains, dog bones are available for the entire temporal sequence of fauna-bearing cultural deposits. The isotope content of dog bone can therefore provide an dine-scaled monitor of transitions in palaeo-diet. The results of this study show the value of using bone chemistry analysis in conjunction with zoo-archaeological analysis and interpretation.