POLLEN ANALYSIS AT LOS HORNOS (AZ U:9:48 (ASM)), ARIZONA

Seventy-eight pollen samples were examined from a variety of locations
within Los Hornos primarily to address questions regarxiing subsistence and
economic strategies. Various natural and cultural factors may have influenced
these strategies, which are likely to have relied heavily on farming, with the
addition of collected or wild plant resources. Three research questions outlined
under Problem Domain IV may be addressed directly through the pollen record:
1. What economic resources were used? What kinds of plant, animal, and
mineral resources were exploited? To what degree was agriculture relied upon vs.
exploitation of natural resources?
2. Is there evidence of resource specialization, including agricultural
and/or floral resources? In addition to agriculture, did residents augment their
subsistence base through the exploitation of a variety of wild resources, or did
they engage in the promotion of economically important species, such as agave,
cholla, legumes, or others?
3. What implications may be identified concerning exploitation methods
through examination of the botanical remains and artifactual categories? What
methods of foodprocessing are indicated through examination of feature types and
artifactual categories?
A wide variety of both plant and animal resources are usually noted at
Hohokam habitation sites. The pollen record is examined for both ubiquity and
abundance of evidence for utilization of plants by the occupants. Identification
of resource specialization is also important at Los Hornos. Pollen analysis will
contribute to understanding utilization of groundstone and may contribute to the
identification of other instances of resource or task specialization.