PROTEIN AND ORGANIC (FTIR) RESIDUE ANALYSIS SAMPLES FROM THE YEARLING SPRING OBSIDIAN CACHE, PARK COUNTY, MONTANA

Originally, two obsidian bifacial scrapers were submitted for protein residue analysis using CIEP from the Yearling Spring Obsidian Biface Cache, located in Park County, Montana. An obsidian biface reduction flake coated with ochre residue was submitted in March 2012. A portion of the ochre residue was removed from the obsidian biface and tested for protein residues. In addition, a piece of ochre/soil matrix recovered from close proximity to the ochre coated tool was tested for protein residues using CIEP and organic residues using FTIR. The goal of these analyses is to detect animal protein residue that may be present on the surfaces of these tools, and to see if animal remains were used as a binder for the red ochre/soil material.