Pollen and Protein Residue Analysis at the Upper Twin Mountain Site (5GA1513), Middle Park, Colorado

Pollen and protein analyses were performed on soil samples and artifacts from the Upper
Twin Mountain site (5GA1513), a bison bone bed associated with the Goshen Period. Site
5GA1513 is located on the south slope of Upper Twin Mountain and within the encompassing
high montane basin, Middle Park. Four pollen samples were collected from a stratigraphic
column that included the bison bone bed near its base. The environmental signal represented
within these four pollen samples is consistent with currently accepted paleoclimatic
interpretations associated with the time periods represented by the soil strata. Four artifacts also
were recovered from the bone bed and analyzed for possible protein residues. Immunological
studies have shown that protein residues from a tool's surface can be identified using modified
forensic procedures. This analysis is used to provide information concerning animals that may
have been hunted/butchered using these artifacts.