PHYTOLITH AND STARCH ANALYSIS FOR A SHELL MIDDEN AT MAYCOCK'S POINT (44PG40), VIRGINIA

Summary

The Maycock’s Point site, 44PG40, is a Middle Woodland occupation site located on the

shore of the James River in Virginia. Previous analyses conducted on a sample from the site

indicate that the exploitation of mussels was the predominate subsistence activity practiced by

occupants of the site, followed by fishing and reptile trapping (Christopher M. Stevenson,

personal communication December 7, 2005). In order to determine if fresh water tubers, such

as Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica), duck potato (Sagittaria latifolia), and/or pickerelweed

(Pontederia cordata) also contributed to the subsistence strategy, nine samples were examined

for the presence of phytoliths and starches. References of the leaves and roots of these three

plants were processed to identify whether or not the plants produce phytoliths and to establish a

signature for the starches contained in the tubers. If river tubers were exploited, distinct

starches and possibly opal phytoliths (if these plants produce them) from the plant should be

preserved in the soil sediments.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

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