PALEOCLIMATE AND PLANT UTILIZATION AS REFLECTED IN THE POLLEN ANALYSIS OF FOUR SITES IN THE CHUSKA VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

Pollen samples from four sites in the Chuska Valley have been analyzed to determine their pollen content. These sites, LA 12732, LA 12733, LA 12734, and LA 12735, were excavated as a part of a highway salvage project and are all within a 1/2 mile stretch along U. S. 666 north of Sheep Springs, New Mexico. The elevation of the area is 1789 meters (5870 feet) with the Chuska Mountains rising to the west and an extremely arid valley stretching eastward to the Chaco Wash. The vegetation at the sites is arid grassland and currently supports only a very sparse vegetative cover, which is probably a result of overgrazing.