POLLEN AND MACROFLORAL ANALYSES OF GARDEN AND MIDDEN AREAS, AT SHERBURNE HOUSE IN STRAWBERY BANKE, PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Summary

The Sherburne House site, located in the historic community of

Strawbery Banke, now Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was the focus of

archaeological investigations in connection with restoration of this

historic district. Pollen and macrofloral analyses were undertaken in an

effort to define the vegetation, herbs, flowers, and even weed species that

grew within several garden areas. Identification of vegetal remains that

were disposed of in trash pit-type areas was also attempted from the

analysis of soil from these features. Oxidation and high concentrations of

fungi are noted to destroy pollen in soil of temperate regions, such as New

England, so pollen analysis of archaeological matrices is frequently not

attempted (Kelso and Schoss 1983). The pollen and macrofloral analyses of

the various garden and trash pit-type features at Sherburne House were, in

part, exploratory. Analysis of all samples proceeded only when initial

examination of one of the garden samples produced both seeds and countable

pollen.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

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