POLLEN AND BOTANIC ANALYSIS OF THE CONTENTS OF TWO GRAY-WARE CERAMIC VESSELS FROM THE BERNSTEIN-DIERKING DISCOVERY SITE, 42SA24364, UTAH

Two Dolores corrugated grayware ceramic vessels were recovered from a small sheltered alcove at the Bernstein-Dierking Discovery site, 42SA24364, in eastern Utah. Ceramics and radiocarbon dates suggest occupation during the Pueblo II period. Fill inside the North Pot was sampled at 5 cm intervals for pollen and/or botanic remains to provide information concerning paleoenvironmental conditions as this vessel filled. In addition, a wash was collected from the interior of the pot to determine probable contents of the vessel. This wash was compared with the soil samples collected from the bottom portion of the pot to assist in identifying probable vessel contents. The South Pot contained several basket fragments and five bone scrapers. The interior surface of the pot was washed to provide information concerning probable contents of the vessel. In addition, a pollen sample was collected from sediment within the marrow cavities of one or more pieces of bone.