MACROFLORAL ANALYSIS OF HEARTH FILL AND IDENTIFICATION OF CHARCOAL FROM STONE CIRCLES AT SITE 48HO375 ON THE RED CANYON RANCH, WYOMING

Charcoal, wood, and botanic remains from two stone circles at site 48HO375 on the Red Canyon Ranch southwest of Thermopolis, Wyoming, were submitted for identification. Fill from hearth features in each of the stone circles was floated to recover macrofloral remains. This site contains evidence for multiple human occupations from Paleoindian to Historic times. The stone circles (“tipi rings”) are believed to represent residences of nomadic Plains Indians. Identification of charcoal will determine types of wood burned as fuel, while macrofloral analysis of hearth fill will provide subsistence information concerning plants that might have been processed in these features.