MACROFLORAL, PHYTOLITH, POLLEN, STARCH, AND ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR), ANALYSES OF STRUCTURAL MATERIAL AND RESIDUE FROM A COATED INFANT BUNDLE BURIAL BASKET, VAL VERDE COUNTY, TEXAS

Fiber and rib material from a coated basket recovered in a rockshelter site in Val Verde County, Texas, was submitted for identification to determine the construction material for the basket. Black residue removed from the inside surface of the basket was examined for pollen, phytoliths, and organic residues (using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) to obtain a better understanding of the residue. The basket was found covering an infant burial that had been wrapped in two layers of matting. A portion of the matting yielded a radiocarbon date of 2090 ± 40 BP, which is consistent with dates from other burial bundles in the Lower Pecos.