ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM THE BAUM PUMPING STATION ROAD SITE (36AR0539), ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

A possible cooking stone and four fire-cracked rocks from a hearth at the Baum Pumping Station Road Site (36AR0539) in western Pennsylvania were submitted for organic residue analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR analysis was conducted on the possible cooking stone and two of the four fire-cracked rock samples, which were selected at PaleoResearch Institute. Since the placement of the fire-cracked rocks within the hearth had deteriorated, there was no discernible difference to indicate which rocks might have been in close or direct contact with the cooking materials. Therefore, there were no reasonable criteria upon which to base sample selection. Organic residue analysis provides information concerning the compounds that were extracted from the possible cooking stone and fire-cracked rock. Information concerning foods that might have been processed in association with thermal features at this site is derived from matches with our reference library of raw and processed plants and animals.