BLOOD RESIDUE ANALYSIS OF SIX ARTIFACTS FROM UTAH

Recent studies have demonstrated that lithic and ceramic
artifacts often retain traces of organic residue resulting
from their original use (Briuer 1976; Broderick 1979; Downs
1985; Fredericksen 1988; Hyland &£. ai. 1990; Newman 1990;
Newman and Julig 1989; Shafer and Holloway 1979). Through
the use of immunological and biochemical techniques the
species of origin can be identified to at least the family
level. This information can be used in the reconstruction
of prehistoric subsistence patterns, man-land relationships
and possibly in identifying artifacts used for specific
tasks.
Immunological tests have been used for many years for
the characterization of bloodstains in medico-legal work.
Since the introduction of the precipitin test for the
medico-legal identification of bloodstains at the turn of
the century (Culliford 1964; Gaensslen 1983), several new
techniques have been introduced. However, the basis of all
subsequent tests is the antigen-antibody reaction first
observed in the classic precipitin test (Gaensslen
1983:53). The sensitivity and specificity of precipitin
reactions makes them an extremely effective method for the
detection of trace amounts of protein (Kabat and Meyer
1967:22).