POLLEN AND MACROFLORAL ANALYSIS AT SITES 48FR5305 AND 48FR5343 FOR THE ROCK RIDGE PROJECT, WYOMING

Pollen, macrofloral, and charcoal samples were examined from sites 48FR5305 and
48FR5343 near Riverton, Wyoming. These sites were identified as a result of the Tom Brown,
Inc. Rock Ridge #6-24 construction project in Fremont County, Wyoming. Pollen and
macrofloral samples were recovered from levels of fill in a large earth oven and from the fill of a
deep, steep-sided basin at 48FR5305, as well as from different levels of fill from an earth oven
at 48FR5343. Samples were collected from corresponding levels outside the features as pollen
controls. Charcoal from these features yielded radiocarbon ages ranging from 1240 ± 60 BP to
1130 ± 60 BP, reflecting occupation of this area during the Late Prehistoric. In addition, two
shallow, basin-shaped hearths recovered during monitoring activities at 48FR5343 yielded
radiocarbon ages of 5570 ± 120 BP and 5820 ± 40 BP, suggesting much earlier use of the area
during the Middle Archaic. Fill samples from these two Archaic hearths were floated to recover
macrofloral remains. Pollen and macrofloral analyses were performed in order to identify plant
resources available to and utilized by the various occupants of these sites.