POLLEN AND MACROFLORAL ANALYSIS AT THE BROWN/SANDERSON HOMESTEAD, CA-AMA-364/H, FOR THE AMADOR BYPASS PROJECT, CALIFORNIA

Samples from four refuse pits at the Brown/Sanderson Homestead (site CA-AMA-364/H) in Amador County, California, were examined for pollen and macrofloral remains. This
site contains both a prehistoric component and historic components. Only the historic
component will be impacted by proposed construction for the Amador Bypass highway project;
therefore, only samples from the historic occupation were examined. The sampled refuse pits
contain materials associated with occupation of the site by Doctor James A. Brown and his
family from 1855 to 1869, and by John Sanderson and his family from 1869 to 1917. During
some of the occupation by the Sanderson family, a Chinese servant and two Irish day laborers
also lived at the ranch. Pollen and macrofloral analyses will be used to identify native plants
versus exotics, as well as to distinguish between weeds and economic species (food and
introduced decorative plantings) utilized by the occupants of the ranch.