IDENTIFICATION AND AMS RADIOCARBON DATING OF CHARCOAL; PROTEIN RESIDUE ANALYSIS OF A DRILL/PROJECTILE POINT; AND POLLEN, PHYTOLITH, AND ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSIS OF CERAMIC SHERDS FROM PHASE III EXCAVATIONS AT SITE 11PK1599, ILLINOIS

Samples were submitted from three cultural features excavated during Phase III data recovery at site 11Pk1599 in western Illinois. Charcoal samples from all three features were submitted for identification and AMS radiocarbon dating in order to identify woods burned as fuel and to obtain temporal information concerning site occupation. A projectile point/drill from a pit with cultural material was analyzed for possible protein residues to identify animals that might have been processed/hunted with this tool. Ceramic sherds from multiple levels of fill in the pit with cultural material were examined for organic residues using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Ceramic sherds from an area believed to represent a hearth dump or pot drop were analyzed for pollen, phytoliths, and organic residues. Ceramic sherds were examined to identify foods cooked using the various vessels represented.