CERAMIC RESIDUE AND ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSIS, CHARCOAL IDENTIFICATION, AND AMS RADIOCARBON AGE DETERMINATION OF SAMPLES FROM THE RIVER FARM SITE (18AN881), ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MARYLAND

The River Farm site (18AN881) exhibits Early Archaic through Late Woodland components, as well as historic use. It is situated on the eastern bank of the Patuxent River in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Several features were observed, two of which were sampled for analysis. Two ceramic sherds exhibiting charred food crust and two closely associated charred botanic fragments were submitted for AMS radiocarbon analysis. Microscopic analysis of the contents of the charred food crust from both sherds for pollen, phytoliths, and/or starch was undertaken to identify plant foods cooked. The organic compound signature for one sherd was identified using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify compounds to help inform about the foods cooked.