POLLEN AND MACROFLORAL ANALYSES OF GARDEN AND MIDDEN AREAS, AT SHERBURNE HOUSE IN STRAWBERY BANKE, PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

The Sherburne House site, located in the historic community of
Strawbery Banke, now Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was the focus of
archaeological investigations in connection with restoration of this
historic district. Pollen and macrofloral analyses were undertaken in an
effort to define the vegetation, herbs, flowers, and even weed species that
grew within several garden areas. Identification of vegetal remains that
were disposed of in trash pit-type areas was also attempted from the
analysis of soil from these features. Oxidation and high concentrations of
fungi are noted to destroy pollen in soil of temperate regions, such as New
England, so pollen analysis of archaeological matrices is frequently not
attempted (Kelso and Schoss 1983). The pollen and macrofloral analyses of
the various garden and trash pit-type features at Sherburne House were, in
part, exploratory. Analysis of all samples proceeded only when initial
examination of one of the garden samples produced both seeds and countable
pollen.