DATA SUMMARY FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ALLIGATOR COPROLITES FROM FEATURE 86-U-2, WARM MINERAL SPRINGS, FLORIDA

Summary

Analysis of nineteen alligator coprolites from Feature 86-U-2 at Warm

Mineral Springs was undertaken to examine pollen, phytoliths, macrofloral and

macrofaunal remains, as well as parasites. Identification of these remains

within the coprolites provides evidence of components of local and regional

vegetation and sheds light on locally available food resources for the

alligators. Preservation of a wide variety of remains was expected to be good,

as these coprolites were recovered from a feature located at a depth of

approximately 150 feet under the surface of Warm Mineral Springs. These

coprolites are associated with material ranging in age from approximately 1,000

to over 3,500 years BP. The study of human coprolites from archaeological sites

has focused mainly on semi-arid and arid areas (Bryant 1974; Callen 1967;

CXimmings 1989; Fry 1970, 1985; Scott 1979; Sobolik 1988), as they provide the

best source of data for consumption of food and interpretation of diet. Animal

coprolites frequently have been overlooked as an important resource for

identifying past vegetation, habitats, and activity patterns. Opportunity for

recovery of coprolites and associated data bases is usually limited to areas of

extreme conditions, such as arid or semi-arid areas, arctic or frozen areas, and

submerged areas. It is only in situations of unusual preservation that coprolite

recovery can be anticipated. These conditions exist at Warm Mineral Springs.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

Record Identifiers

PRI Technical Report(s): 90-040

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