POLLEN AND DIATOM ANALYSIS OF SEDIMENTS FROM METAMORPHOSE POINT (SITE BHT 8 and BHT 4; PROJECT NO. 560-033), FORT BLISS, NEW MEXICO

A total of seven pollen samples and one sample for diatom analysis were submitted from Metamorphose Point (Site BHT 8). These samples were collected from two different sections of a trench cut. Two sections were sampled at the site. Section 1 included a paleosol (2Ab) that was sampled at the bottom, middle, and top for pollen analysis to better understand the local paleoenvironment. Section 2 is represented by pollen samples from the bottom, middle, and top of possible playa deposits. In addition, the middle portion of these “playa” sediments was sampled for diatoms. A single pollen sample from the C1 soil horizon also was submitted from this section of the trench to correlate the two units of interest. Previous analysis by PRI of a single pollen sample from Section 3 of the trench (2C soil horizon) appears to be the same 2C horizon basal units in Sections 1 and 2 (see PRI technical report 07-97). There is no direct cultural affiliation with this site.