ANALYSIS OF POLLEN AND CHARRED MACROFLORAL REMAINS FROM THE NAHO SANTA THERESA EXCAVATION PROJECT, SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Summary

Twenty-three pollen and 42 bulk soil samples were collected in

conjunction with the Navajo-Hopi Land Exchange Archaeological Project in the

extreme southeastern portion of Dona Ana County, New Mexico. This project

is located within the geographic area known as the Mesilla Bolson, a

relatively flat plain west of the Rio Grande, referred to as the West Mesa.

This plain terminates in a jagged scarp bordering the river plain. Areas of

both low and high artifact density were recovered. Features excavated

during the NAHO Santa Theresa excavation project included pits, hearths, pit

structures, ash stains, and combinations of these features. The pollen and

macrofloral analyses of the fills of these features was designed to gather

subsistence data to shed light on the plants that were utilized by the

occupants of the site. Pollen analysis of stratigraphic samples was

designed to provide data concerning the past environment for comparison with

the subsistence data yielded in the pollen and macrofloral samples

representing feature fills. The stratigraphic samples may also address the

question of the antiquity of the mesquite coppice dune vegetation community.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

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