An Analysis of Pollen from Fort Vancouver, Washington

The Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research at the University of Massachusetts Boston conducted a palynological analysis of twenty-four soil samples that were collected from the Fort Vancouver site. The samples were recovered from various contexts associated with the "garden testing area," a "historically documented 8-acre (maximum) formal garden created and maintained by the HBC [Hudson Bay Company] circa 1829-1855." Archaeologists have considered several research questions, which the pollen analysis conducted on soil samples taken from the garden testing area could address. Historical documentation describes a fonnal garden that was comprised of many imported floral species from England; however, the archaeological record to date has found little evidence of this and the historical record is incomplete regarding which seeds provided by English growers were planted at Fort Vancouver and which ones were shipped to other posts. Archaeologists are also trying to decipher whether or not documented twenty to thirty foot wide garden paths were surfaced with grass. The pollen analysis addresses these issues, but also supports and augments the archaeology of Fort Vancouver and historical record.