PHYTOLITH ANALYSIS OF EARLY AGRICULTURAL PERIOD FIELD SEDIMENTS AT THE SITE OF LAS CAPAS (AZ AA:12:111), TUCSON, ARIZONA

A total of 26 sediment samples from agricultural field contexts were submitted for phytolith analysis from the site of Las Capas (AZ AA:12:111), which is located near Tucson, Arizona. Las Capas is an early agricultural period site that utilized canal irrigation for maize and possibly other cultivated plants. The sediments submitted for phytolith analysis are from Stratum 504, which spans a date range of 950 B.C. to 800 B.C., and places them within the San Pedro Phase Early Agriculture period. The goal of this analysis is to identify plants that may have been cultivated, as well as to identify weeds and other plants that may have been a natural component of the landscape.