POLLEN, STARCH, PHYTOLlTH, AND PROTEIN RESIDUE ANALYSIS OF ARTIFACTS AND SOIL SAMPLES FROM MIDDEN DEPOSITS AT SITES CA-ORA-263 AND CA-ORA-264; POLLEN, PHYTOLlTH, AND DIATOM ANALYSIS OF CORE SAMPLES FROM AN OFF-SITE LOCATION; AND ARCHAEOCLATIC MODELING FOR THE HELLMAN RANCH PROJECT, CALIFORNIA

Pollen, phytolith, starch, and protein residue analyses were conducted on artifacts recovered in association with burials at site CA-ORA-263 in southern California, as well as on the soil control samples associated with these artifacts collected from midden sediments. An isolated basin metate at site CA-ORA-264 and a soil control from the basin fill also were examined for pollen, starches, phytoliths, and possible protein residues. These analyses were undertaken to be able to more fully understand the nature and use of the artifacts recovered. Stratigraphic column samples from two locations in the midden were examined for pollen, starches, and phytoliths. In addition, a core was collected off-site and examined for pollen, phytoliths, and diatoms to provide a paleoenvironmental context for the site. An archaeoclimate model was constructed for this general area (based on the 1961-1990 climate normals from the Los Angeles Weather Service Office at LA International AP, California) that examines modeled climatic parameters for the past 14,000 years in the area.