Hardwood ash nixtamalization may lead to false negatives for the presence of maize by depleting bulk δ13C in carbonized residues

13 C abstract Among the multiple proxies for detecting maize in precontact economies is the use of d 13 C analysis of carbonized residues from ceramic cooking vessels. Although maize horticulture was widely established in Eastern North America (ENA) by A.D. 1000, there are carbonized residues from ceramic assemblages after this date that lack the elevated d 13 C values indicative of the presence of maize. This may be due to