BLOOD RESIDUE ANALYSIS OF ARTIFACTS FROM THREE SITES IN SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Summary

Recent studies have demonstrated that lithic and ceramic

artifacts often retain traces of organic residue resulting

from their original use (Briuer 1976; Broderick 1979; Downs

1985; Fredericksen 1988; Hyland et al.a 1990; Newman 1990;

Newman and Julig 1989; Shafer and Holloway 1979)- Through

the use of immunological and biochemical techniques the

species of origin can be identified to at least the family

level. This information can be used in the reconstruction

of prehistoric subsistence patterns, man-land relationships

and possibly in identifying artifacts used for specific

tasks.

Immunological tests have been used for many years for

the characterization of bloodstains in medico-legal worko

Since the introduction of the precipitin test for the

medico-legal identification of bloodstains at the turn of

the century (Culliford 1964? Gaensslen 1983)9 several new

techniques have been introduced. However„ the basis of all

subsequent tests is the antigen-antibody reaction first

observed in the classic precipitin test (Gaensslen

1983:53). The sensitivity and specificity of precipitin

reactions makes them an extremely effective method for the

detection of trace amounts of protein (Kabat and Meyer

1967:22).

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

Record Identifiers

PRI Technical Report(s): 90-077

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