Evidence for Possible Digging Implements in the Southern Columbia Plateau: Microbotanical Analysis of Stone Tools from a Late Holocene Earth Oven, 45OK1722, WA

Summary

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

Earthen ovens in the Southern Columbia Plateau are associated with the preparation and cooking of roots and tubers, with evidence dating back to the middle Holocene. Despite issues with the preservation of these plant elements in the archaeological record, researchers can use microbotanical analyses to identify microscopic remains that oftentimes preserve far longer than macrobotanical remains. Archaeologists have used microbotanical analyses to identify plant collection and processing from the residues of stones tools that would have been associated with those activities. We present the results of a multi-proxy analysis of starch grains and phytoliths on bifacial flaked tools and ground stone tools excavated by Washington State University field school students at 45OK1722 in 2022. Based on our results, we hypothesize that these bifacial stone tools may be digging implements associated with the collection of roots for a late Holocene earthen oven. These results are significant because our multi-proxy methods can identify ancient food collecting and preparation processes with direct botanical evidence from tool residues. These results also acknowledge that local, Tribal communities have collected these plant foods for time immemorial and continue to do so today despite issues with threatened access to these plants and the effects of climate change.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 41616.0