Berries: Important Nutrients for the Natives of Prince Rupert Harbour

We have made measurements of the stable carbon isotope ratio (δ 13 C) of the carbonate in the bones of humans from three archaeological sites at Prince Rupert Harbour, British Columbia, Canada. The value of δ 13 C for carbonate in these bone samples shows that a large part of the energy supply (elemental carbon) of these people was derived from terrestrial plants. The only plants known to have been consumed in large amounts by the natives of this region were berries: elderberries, blueberries and other species. We show that they would have constituted 60 ± 10% of the energy content of the diet.