MACROFLORAL ANALYSIS, CHARCOAL IDENTIFICATION, AND AMS RADIOCARBON AGE DETERMINATION OF SAMPLES FROM PREHISTORIC SITES CM-1, CM-2, CM-3 AND CM-4 IN KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Prehistoric Sites CM-1, CM-2, CM-3, and CM-4 lie in the Western Mojave Desert subregion northwest of California City in Kern County, California. Features exposed during RE Cinco Project construction grading activities in the area yielded numerous fire-affected rocks, charcoal, and ash (Christopher Duran, personal communication June 24, 2015 and April 20, 2016). Hearth fills from each site were collected for macrofloral analysis to recover and identify plants used by site occupants. In addition, two charcoal samples from Sites CM-1 and CM-3 were submitted for identification. Suitable charcoal from each site was selected for AMS radiocarbon age determination to ascertain periods of use.