MACROFLORAL, WOOD IDENTIFICATION, AND PHYTOLITH/SPHERULITE ANALYSES AT SITES LA 155815 AND LA 156001 ON THE KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO

Samples from the fill of a hearth and an earth oven at site LA 155815 and from an area of burned sediment with ash and charcoal associated with ceramic sherds at site LA 156001 were floated to recover macrofloral remains. Three wood samples from posts surrounding the hearth and an earth oven were submitted for identification. In addition, a column sample from an area that borders the location of a 1620 temporary field hut believed to have been used to farm and tend sheep at LA 155815 was examined for calcium carbonate spherulites to determine if sheep were present in the area. These sites represent small, early Historic period residential sites on Kirtland Air Force Base in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The surface artifact assemblages at these sites contain Glaze F ceramics, which were made from approximately A.D. 1625-1700. Macrofloral analysis of the fill from these three features provides information concerning plant resources utilized by the site occupants.