MACROFLORAL ANALYSIS AND AMS RADIOCARBON DATING, OF TWO HEARTHS FROM SITE 48HO375, RED CANYON RANCH, WYOMING

Summary

Two hearths eroding out of a cut bank along Red Canyon Creek at site 48HO375 on the

Red Canyon Ranch near Thermopolis, Wyoming, were examined for evidence of cooking.

Macrofloral samples were collected from each of the hearths for recovery of charred material

representing fuel and plants that were processed. A piece of fire-cracked rock with rounded

edges that was identified as a possible mano in the field was recovered from the hearth at the

Finger Pasture. Laboratory examination revealed that this cobble had been burned. Therefore,

analysis of this tool was restricted to recovery of organic molecules for identification using

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, fill from both hearths also was

subjected to analysis for organic molecules using the FTIR. AMS radiocarbon dates were

obtained for both features, documenting occupations during the Late Archaic and Late

Prehistoric eras.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

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