POLLEN AND ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM SITE 48CR332, CARBON COUNTY, WYOMING

Site 48CR332, a multicomponent site, is located along the southeastern margin of the Ferris Mountains in central Wyoming. It is situated at an elevation of 6250 feet above sea level at the mouth of Sand Creek Canyon. The canyon is formed by the Ferris Mountains to the west-southwest and Bear Mountain to the south- southeast. A small intermountain basin opens to the north-northeast of the site. Nine stratigraphic pollen samples represent all five components noted at the site, which range from Late Archaic (approximately 3440-3450 BP) to Late Prehistoric (approximately 1290 BP) in age. This analysis provides information concerning the local and regional environment in which people lived. FTIR analysis of feature fill from seven thermal features provides an opportunity to examine chemical evidence for economic activity during this same time period.