FTIR ANALYSIS ON SAMPLES FROM SITE FlOp-48, ST. PAUL COUNTY, ALBERTA, CANADA

Site FlOp-48 is a prehistoric lithic scatter within the dry mixedwood subregion of the boreal forest natural region in Alberta. One fire broken rock (FBR), representing an FBR concentration and possible boiling pit, was submitted with a soil control sample (sample A) for organic residue analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to better understand economic activities specific to thermal features at this site. Interpretations of this analysis provide information concerning compounds extracted from the FBR. Interpretations concerning foods that might have been cooked in the feature containing the fire broken rock is derived from matches with our reference library of processed plants and animals, while information concerning the environment is inferred from matches with our reference library of raw plants and animals.