FIBER IDENTIFICATION FOR CORDAGE FROM WILLOW CREEK, EAST TAVAPUTS PLATEAU, EASTERN UTAH

Summary

Cordage recovered in a rockshelter along the western side of Willow Creek in the East

Tavaputs Plateau of eastern Utah was submitted for microscopic analysis to identify the fibers.

Examination with a compound, petrographic microscope using cross-polar illumination was

necessary to identify the fibers. Cross-polar illumination, combined with a rotating stage, allows

observation of light refraction producing colors that vary with "north-south" and "east-west"

positioning of the specimen under the scope. A few fibers were removed from the end of the

cordage and mounted on a microscope slide in glycerin for observation at 400x.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

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