POLLEN, PARASITE, PHYTOLITH, STARCH, MACROFLORAL AND DIATOM ANALYSIS OF SOIL SAMPLES FROM A TRANSBAY BURIAL, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

The Transbay Project encompasses large portions of San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood on the western side of San Francisco Bay. Near the bottom excavation elevation, at the interface of Marine Sands with Lower Bay Mud, an individual burial was excavated. The burial included human remains and a woven mat that lined the pit and was folded over the top of the individual’s legs (Aimee Arrigoni, personal communication April 17, 2014). From this burial four soil samples were submitted for analysis. Two were examined for pollen, parasite, phytolith, starch, and diatom analysis and two additional samples were examined for macrofloral remains. Results of these analyses contribute to investigation of the circumstances of interment, the individual’s health and heritage, local resources and subsistence, and the environment of the area. A radiocarbon date of 7570 CAL yr. BP was returned on human bone from the burial.