ANALYSIS OF POLLEN AND CHARRED MACROFLORAL REMAINS FROM THE NAHO SANTA THERESA EXCAVATION PROJECT, SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO

Twenty-three pollen and 42 bulk soil samples were collected in
conjunction with the Navajo-Hopi Land Exchange Archaeological Project in the
extreme southeastern portion of Dona Ana County, New Mexico. This project
is located within the geographic area known as the Mesilla Bolson, a
relatively flat plain west of the Rio Grande, referred to as the West Mesa.
This plain terminates in a jagged scarp bordering the river plain. Areas of
both low and high artifact density were recovered. Features excavated
during the NAHO Santa Theresa excavation project included pits, hearths, pit
structures, ash stains, and combinations of these features. The pollen and
macrofloral analyses of the fills of these features was designed to gather
subsistence data to shed light on the plants that were utilized by the
occupants of the site. Pollen analysis of stratigraphic samples was
designed to provide data concerning the past environment for comparison with
the subsistence data yielded in the pollen and macrofloral samples
representing feature fills. The stratigraphic samples may also address the
question of the antiquity of the mesquite coppice dune vegetation community.