ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM SITES LA 37113, LA 37127, LA 37130, LA 37149, LA 37155, LA 37156, LA 37175, LA 161979, AND LA 162325, MCGREGOR RANGE, FORT BLISS MILITARY RESERVATION, NEW MEXICO

Twenty burned limestone rocks and associated sediment samples from Formative and Archaic components of rock-lined baking pits at sites LA 37113, LA 37127, LA 37130, LA 37149, LA 37155, LA 37156, LA 37175, LA 161979, and LA 162325 on McGregor Range at the Fort Bliss Military Reservation in New Mexico were submitted for organic residue analysis. Of the samples submitted, nine burned rocks and associated sediment samples were selected for organic residue analysis based on their ability to provide a representative picture of change over time in feature use among the sites. Examination of burned rocks and sediment samples from the same feature was used to determine if the signatures obtained from the artifacts were derived from the sediments in which they were buried, or independently through cultural use. Organic residue analysis is used to gain information regarding materials processed and/or discarded in the pit features. Samples were tested for organic residues using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).