Pollen, Phytolith, and Macrofloral Analysis of Modern Surface Control Samples from Sites 26CK948 and 26CK949 on the Las Vegas Springs Preserve, Nevada

Seven surface control samples from various plant communities on The Las Vegas Springs Preserve, Nevada, were analyzed for pollen, phytoliths, and macrofloral remains. One sample each was analyzed from meadow, bosque, creosote/bursage, saltbush, riparian, and mixed communities at 26CK948, while a single sample was examined from a mixed community at 26CK949. These samples were selected both to provide pollen, phytolith, and macrofloral signatures for the various plant micro-communities in the area today and to serve as modern controls for archaeological samples submitted for analysis from Locus 14A of the Las Vegas Springs site (26CK948). This report will consider the micro-environmental differences and evidence for taxa introduced during the historic era noted in the samples.