POLLEN AND MACROFOSSIL ANALYSIS IN THE ANTELOPE CREEK STUDY AREA, EASTERN POWDER RIVER BASIN, WYOMING

Twenty sites in the Antelope Creek Study Area in the Eastern
Powder River Basin of Wyoming have been sampled for pollen and
macrofossil analysis. These sites are located on the terraces above
Antelope Creek, which is a tributary of the Cheyenne River. Macrofossil
analysis of soil samples from 45 hearths and 7 samples from
occupation surfaces at these sites, as well as pollen analysis of soil
from 25 of the hearths and 6 occupation surfaces was completed in
connection with archaeological testing at these sites. Comprehensive
testing of these hearths through macrofossil and pollen analysis was
aimed at identifying subsistence patterns and the utilization of vegetal
resources. The hearths located in this study area have been radiocarbon
dated between 2565 BP and 505 BP. Although these features occurred at
depths between the surface and approximately 60 cm below the present ground
surface, most of the hearths occurred either on the surface or within 10 cm
of the surface. In addition, samples were taken from a stratigraphic profile
at one of the sites in an effort to define the paleoenvironment, and any changes
in the vegetation that may have taken place during the period of occupation
for this area.