POLLEN, PHYTOLITH, STARCH, MACROFLORAL, PROTEIN, AND ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSES AND AMS RADIOCARBON DATING OF SAMPLES FROM SITES LA 124525 AND LA 161918, NEW MEXICO

Summary

Two sites (LA 161918 and LA 124525) are located on the East Mine property of Intrepid-Potash in southeast New Mexico and reflect Jornada Mogollon occupations. Site LA 124525 may also contain an Early to Middle Archaic (4000 to 2500 B.C.) component. A single lithic scraper from LA 161918 was washed to recover possible protein residues on the tool’s surface to indicate the animal or animals processed with the scraper. Fill samples from six stain features at site LA 124525 were submitted for pollen, phytolith, starch, and macrofloral analyses to help determine if these stains reflect cultural features or natural root burns. A groundstone fragment found near one of the stains was washed to recover phytoliths and starches to identify a possible signature of use. Charcoal fragments recovered from the macrofloral samples were submitted for AMS radiocarbon dating. The feature fill samples and three pieces of fire-cracked rock also were analyzed for organic residues, especially lipids, using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Sediment from the site surface was examined as a pollen control.

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• PaleoResearch Institute

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Contact(s): Linda Scott Cummings

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