Student and ECR Research Support Award (December 2021) - Lindsey Paskulin

Lindsey Paskulin, University of British Columbia

Studies of subsistence serve at the forefront of archaeological inquiry. Faunal remains, lithics, and pottery are commonly preserved in the archaeological record and thus form the basis for understanding foodways in the past. Interpreting the complex relationship between individuals and food requires the application of different methods to build more informed understandings of past practices. A multi-proxied approach is particularly important in Andean archaeology, where ancient foodways have been shaped by a diverse range of unique foodstuffs, many of which are plant-based. Archaeological evidence for plant cultivation and use is often rare, biasing our interpretations of foodways in favor of faunal remains and other foodstuff more easily preserved. In South America, however, the importance of plants is undeniable and a primary focus of archaeologists is to reconstruct foodways around important plant foods, including maize, squash, beans, potatoes, coca, chili peppers, and more. 

My research applies shotgun proteomics – a method of ancient protein analysis – for the identification of plant and animal food-derived proteins in Late Moche (600-900 CE) pottery residues from Huaca Colorada and Tecapa on the Northwest coast of Peru. Local communities in Jequetepeque Valley – the region encompassing Huaca Colorada and Tecapa – operated within and alongside external political pressures, weaving together internal and external influences across time and space in the creation of local identity. Considering cuisine as one expression of identity, my research seeks to reconstruct past recipes through the analysis of plant and animal proteins preserved in ancient cooking pots (ollas). 

The importance of plant and animal species at the sites is reflected in existing canal structures, and a rich zooarchaeological and macrobotanical assemblage. The large collection of marine shells and mammalian bones suggest an importance of coastal resources, as well as terrestrial. Pottery sherds blanket the surface of the huaca, emphasizing the essential role of food for activities and performances at the site. The significance of plant and animal species is further demonstrated in pottery and architecture through symbolic representation and expression. The overlapping ceremonial and residential contexts at Huaca Colorada and Tecapa suggest a duality of use and symbology, presenting an opportunity to examine how plant and animal resources were used in tandem and across space. How were individuals preparing food? What ingredients constitute food in ceremonial and non-ceremonial spaces? Complementing other analytical techniques, such as macrobotany and zooarchaeology, proteomics will contribute to a wider picture of food preparation and cuisine at the ceremonial center of Huaca Colorada and the neighboring Tecapa. 

The funds awarded by the Society of Archaeological Sciences allowed me to travel to Pacasmayo (Peru) for the 2022 Huaca Colorada field season. While in the field, I sampled residues from pottery sherds and whole vessels excavated from Huaca Colorada and Tecapa. The samples will be exported to Canada for extraction and analysis. The trip was essential for obtaining samples and expanding my professional network. As part of my doctoral research, the data from Huaca Colorada and Tecapa will be used in broader interpretations of food preparation, cuisine, and identity in the Jequetepeque Valley.