BLOOD RESIDUE ANALYSIS OF ARTIFACTS FROM INDIAN CREEK SITE (18PR94), MARYLAND

Forty-five lithic artifacts from an Archaic site were submitted for blood residue analysis by cross-over immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP). These artifacts exhibited positive reactions to mouse, rat, deer, guinea pig, chicken, trout, rabbit, human, dog, bovine, and fern. Some artifacts exhibited positive results to more than one protein antiserum. The identification of more than one species on an artifact is not uncommon and suggests that these may have had multiple uses (i.e., expediency tools). The absence of identifiable residues on the other artifacts tested may be due to the fact that 1) artifacts were used on animals or plants, other than those covered by the anti-sera used, 2) the artifacts were not utilized or, 3) that protein denaturation was too severe to permit identification.