POLLEN AND PHYTOLITH ANALYSIS FOR SITES 48YE1 AND 48YE14, YELLOWSTONE, WYOMING

Pollen and phytolith samples were examined from a variety of vegetation communities to examine the pollen and phytolith records representing these different vegetation communities. Previous pollen and phytolith analyses of samples from archaeological sites at Yellowstone have yielded a pollen record dominated by Pinus pollen that appears to obscure evidence of movement of other pollen types within the record. This study was designed to examine the pollen record in both the standard manner, then produce a second pollen diagram from modified pollen counts. These counts require a minimum of 100 non-pine pollen grains. This analysis was structured to observe changes in vegetation communities not visible through standard pollen analysis. Pollen and phytolith analysis in this study examine not only modern pollen analysis, but also two stratigraphic record from sites 48YE1 and 48YE14. In addition, samples were examined from the inside and outside of a hearth at 48YE14.