POLLEN AND MACROFOSSIL ANALYSIS IN THE ANTELOPE CREEK STUDY AREA, EASTERN POWDER RIVER BASIN, WYOMING

Summary

Twenty sites in the Antelope Creek Study Area in the Eastern

Powder River Basin of Wyoming have been sampled for pollen and

macrofossil analysis. These sites are located on the terraces above

Antelope Creek, which is a tributary of the Cheyenne River. Macrofossil

analysis of soil samples from 45 hearths and 7 samples from

occupation surfaces at these sites, as well as pollen analysis of soil

from 25 of the hearths and 6 occupation surfaces was completed in

connection with archaeological testing at these sites. Comprehensive

testing of these hearths through macrofossil and pollen analysis was

aimed at identifying subsistence patterns and the utilization of vegetal

resources. The hearths located in this study area have been radiocarbon

dated between 2565 BP and 505 BP. Although these features occurred at

depths between the surface and approximately 60 cm below the present ground

surface, most of the hearths occurred either on the surface or within 10 cm

of the surface. In addition, samples were taken from a stratigraphic profile

at one of the sites in an effort to define the paleoenvironment, and any changes

in the vegetation that may have taken place during the period of occupation

for this area.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

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