POLLEN, PROTEIN, AND ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM THE REEDERS CREEK WEST SITE (28ME360), NEW JERSEY

Fourteen ceramics from the Reeders Creek West site, 28Me360, were submitted for examination of organic residues using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, four sediment samples were examined for pollen, while two projectile point–type artifacts and a projectile point base were analyzed for possible protein residues. This site is a Native American campsite located above the Delaware River in Mercer County, New Jersey. This stratified site contains Middle Archaic through Late Woodland components. Pollen analysis is used to provide paleoenvironmental information, while organic and protein residues from artifact surfaces were analyzed to provide information concerning plant and animal resources cooked in the vessels or hunted/processed with the tools. Only FTIR analysis of organic residues can provide evidence of cooked proteins, while raw proteins are detected best with protein residue analysis.