PHYTOLITH, STARCH, MACROFLORAL, AND ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSES, AND AMS RADIOCARBON DATING AT THE LAKE SHETEK PARK CAMPGROUND SITE 3, 21MU54, MINNESOTA

The Lake Shetek Campground Site 3 (21MU54) in Lake Shetek State Park, southwest Minnesota is a multicomponent Plains Village, Woodland, and Archaic site. A single feature from this site was the object of intensive study to place this feature in time and identify its function. A piece of fire-cracked rock from the fill of a fire-cracked rock feature was examined for phytoliths, starches, and organic residues, the latter using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), to determine plant and/or animal resources that were utilized at this site. The fire-cracked rock feature might have functioned as a cooking feature. At the time this study was initiated this feature was thought to be associated with the Archaic occupation of the site. Fill from the base of the feature near the fire-cracked rock layer was examined for macrofloral remains to recover charred material for AMS radiocarbon dating. A single date was returned for charcoal from this fill.