PHYTOLITH AND STARCH ANALYSIS FOR A SHELL MIDDEN AT MAYCOCK'S POINT (44PG40), VIRGINIA

The Maycock’s Point site, 44PG40, is a Middle Woodland occupation site located on the
shore of the James River in Virginia. Previous analyses conducted on a sample from the site
indicate that the exploitation of mussels was the predominate subsistence activity practiced by
occupants of the site, followed by fishing and reptile trapping (Christopher M. Stevenson,
personal communication December 7, 2005). In order to determine if fresh water tubers, such
as Arrow Arum (Peltandra virginica), duck potato (Sagittaria latifolia), and/or pickerelweed
(Pontederia cordata) also contributed to the subsistence strategy, nine samples were examined
for the presence of phytoliths and starches. References of the leaves and roots of these three
plants were processed to identify whether or not the plants produce phytoliths and to establish a
signature for the starches contained in the tubers. If river tubers were exploited, distinct
starches and possibly opal phytoliths (if these plants produce them) from the plant should be
preserved in the soil sediments.