POLLEN AND PHYTOLITH ANALYSIS, X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION ASSESSMENT, AND SOIL RESISTIVITY OF CORE SAMPLES FROM FORD DRY LAKE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Two cores were collected from two locations at the Ford Dry Lake Playa in eastern Riverside County’s Chuckwalla Valley, California. Remote assessment of the dry lake was made using Google Earth. Coring was conducted under the guidance of the Genesis Solar Energy Project Geoarchaeologist near two of the locations suggested by PaleoResearch Institute staff. Two cores measuring 25 feet each and consisting of drive intervals of 5 feet were submitted for analysis to provide a description of prehistoric vegetation and the local environment. Pollen and phytolith analysis both were explored. Although AMS radiocarbon dating was authorized, no datable carbon was recovered. Elemental composition assessment was made using X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and soil resistivity readings were collected along one core.