Maize in the Mix: Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Analysis of a Fremont Ceramic Mug Recovered from the Snow Farm Site in Payson, Utah

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Snow Farm site, located on private farmland within the contemporary town of Payson, Utah, was inhabited by the Fremont people from approximately A.D. 700 to 1100 and is believed to have been a part of a larger village complex known as the Payson Mounds. The site is rich in Fremont artifacts and features, including three burials, some of which have been partially exposed by recent plowing. This study used gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze soil from a small mug discovered in one of the burials that contained the remains of a middle-aged male. The analysis revealed traces of arachidic acid, commonly found in maize oil, extracted from maize kernels via mechanical or chemical means. Prior research suggests differential access to maize among the Fremont, with certain males consuming corn beer, implying elevated social status. These investigations indicate that these individuals, marked by maize-rich diets and elaborate burials, likely held higher societal positions. It is our suggestion that the mug found at the Snow Farm site likely contained a similar beverage, shedding light on the socioeconomic standing of the middle-aged male buried alongside this unassuming yet potentially significant ceramic vessel.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 40225.0