POLLEN AND PHYTOLITH ANALYSIS AT ABINGDON PLANTATION, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

Summary

The Abingdon Plantation site (44AR18) is situated on previously level terrain

approximately 60 feet above sea level overlooking the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia.

Stratigraphic pollen and phytolith analysis was performed at close intervals on a series of

fourteen samples from a column in Unit 21 and eight samples from Unit 70. Samples from Unit

21 represent Stratum F, which represents 18th century occupations and may contain garden

deposits, as well as a small amount of the overlying Stratum E, which has been dated to the

1850s and the underlying, culturally sterile Stratum G. Samples from Unit 70 represent close

interval sampling from Strata D, C, and B. Stratum C represents a 18th century deposits, while

Stratum D represents culturally sterile sediment below this surface and Stratum B represents

19th century fill (Leslie Raymer, personal communication, June 1998). Close interval pollen and

phytolith analysis in this area of the historic yard and close to a kitchen window was undertaken

to reconstruct yard vegetation, discard of kitchen debris, and site formation processes. The

original goal of large pollen counts of 400 grains was abandoned prior to analysis due to

budgetary constraints.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

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