POLLEN, PHYTOLITH, STARCH, AND MACROFLORAL ANALYSIS FOR AIS GIORKIS, CYPRUS

Ais Giorkis, Cyprus, an Aceramic Neolithic site, represents either an early “Cypro-PPNB” or Late Khirokitia culture occupation. Radiocarbon ages on bone cluster around 6800–7000 ca. BC. This important Neolithic site is located in the uplands. Although it does not appear to be a typical village, Ais Giorkis contains only limited cattle remains, which is unusual for Neolithic occupations. Three ground stone implements, which were relatively rare in the artifact assemblage, one stone bowl, and one stone vessel with a ring base were washed to recover pollen and phytoliths to interpret plants that might have been processed. Two soil samples, representing the modern surface and a subsurface, were also examined to compare with the wash samples. Subsequent excavations yielded a mano, ground slab, a ground stone picrolite bowl fragment, and a fragment from a large ground stone vessel, all of which were examined for pollen, phytolith, and starch evidence of use. Additional artifacts including one stone vessel, a grinding bowl, one mortar, a quern, and one stone axe were washed to recover phytolith, pollen, and starches. One sediment sample (SFN 60) recovered from the interior of an overturned bowl was submitted for pollen, phytolith, starch, and macrofloral analyses.