POLLEN, MACROFLORAL, AND PARASITE ANALYSIS AT VIRGINIUS ISLAND, HARPER'S FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA

Pollen, macrofloral, and/or parasite samples were analyzed from
proveniences associated with West Rowhouse #5 (46JF209), Schofield House
(46JF211), and Wernwag House (46JF212) near the Shenandoah River on Virginius Island, Harper's Ferry National Historical Park. Pollen and macrofloral analyses are expected to provide information about the changing physical, social, and economic characteristics of the Virginius Island community during the 19th century. The occupants of the island experienced changes in occupations, social identities, community structure, standards of living, and lifestyles, as well as their perception of, use of, and impact on the cultural landscape. Pollen and macrofloral analyses are expected to reconstruct aspects of the changing lifeways and the capture of specific and localized indicators of change in the cultural landscape. In addition, the research is expected to provide more information about the nature of the material culture and environmental remains still extant in the archaeological present. Analysis of pollen and/or macrofloral remains from the rowhouses, the Schofield House, and the Wernwag House is also expected to enable researchers to discern details about variations in the management and uses of yards, yard zones, gardens, activity areas, sidewalks, roads, boundary areas, and other components of the landscape that relate to differences in socio-economic and socio-cultural factors. The combined pollen and macrofloral analyses may provide information about the changing composition of vegetative communities, land use, landscaping,
general climate, and microenvironment. Pollen and macrofloral data are also
expected to be evaluated as they relate to the depositional history of the
subject site and expectations about the nature of transport, deposition,
preservation, pollen and macrofloral types that were recovered, and those that
were expected but not recovered. The pollen and macrofloral remains from
Virginius Island will be compared with those from other sites at Harper's Ferry
and from other sites that represent a 19th century industrial community in
development and decline.