POLLEN, PHYTOLITH, STARCH, AND PROTEIN ANALYSIS OF STONE ARTIFACTS FROM PAISLEY CAVES (35LK3400), OREGON

Six stone artifacts and a wash of a large metate (a liquid sample) were submitted for pollen, starch, phytolith, protein, and XRD analyses from the Paisley 5 Mile Point Caves, Oregon. Previous work by PaleoResearch and other researchers has identified the presence of a variety of mammal and fish protein residue and DNA at the Paisley Caves. Because of the age of this site, the suite of protein residue antisera used to test these artifacts included elephant, camel, and horse, representing Late-Pleistocene fauna now extinct in North America. Also, previous work by PaleoResearch has identified microscopic plant remains on artifacts from Paisley Caves that may be related to subsistence practices. Therefore, pollen, starch, and phytolith analyses were conducted on these stone artifacts.