POLLEN, PHYTOLITH, MACROFLORAL, AND PROTEIN RESIDUE ANALYSIS AT THE BUCKEYE KNOLL SITE, 41VT98, EASTERN TEXAS

Two separate areas were excavated at the Buckeye Knoll Site, 41VT98, in southeast
Texas. Each of these areas had a stratified sequence. The Knoll Top excavation block
contained an Early Archaic cemetery, a few hearth features, and midden deposits. Strata in
this excavation block represent the late Paleo-Indian to the Late Prehistoric. A milling stone
fragment found in the Knoll Top excavation block was washed for both pollen/starches and
protein residues, while general fill, hearth fill, and burial fill samples from the excavation block
were examined for macrofloral remains. Two burned clay nodules from a hearth in the Knoll
Top excavation block also were washed to recover pollen/starches present. Soil matrix from
the upper midden Zone 2 was examined for pollen and phytoliths. This sample also served as
a control for the wash of the milling stone. Lithic artifacts from the burials were examined for
possible protein residues to provide information concerning animal resources that might have
been processed using these tools. The West Slope excavation block is located about 25
meters west of the Knoll Top Excavation block and contained a cache of "tested" chert cobbles,
a large slab of basketry-impressed asphaltum (natural beach tar), a large pit, and six hearths or
hearth remnants consisting of clusters of burned clay nodules. The strata in this area represent
probable Early Archaic to Late Prehistoric occupations. Soil matrix samples from the lower
midden Zone 3 and the upper midden Zone 2 were examined for pollen and phytoliths. In
addition, these samples served as soil controls for a pollen/starch wash from a small sandstone
milling stone, as well as for burned clay nodules from three of the hearth/hearth remnant
features. The milling stone also was examined for possible protein residues. Fill samples from
five of the hearth/hearth remnant features and from the large pit were examined for macrofloral
remains, as were general fill samples. Pollen, starch, phytolith, and macrofloral analyses are
used to provide information concerning plant resources available to and utilized by the
prehistoric occupants of site 41VT98, which is believed to have experienced frequent, regular,
multifunctional occupations.