POLLEN, PHYTOLITH, STARCH, AND PROTEIN RESIDUE ANALYSES AT SITES 36PE16 AND 36PE61 FOR THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BRIDGE PROJECT, NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA

Preliminary examination of a few pollen and phytolith stratigraphic samples from archaeological site 36PE16 in eastern Pennsylvania indicated that both records provided sufficient material for further analysis. Therefore, additional pollen and phytolith samples were examined from strata in three test pits at sites 36PE16 and 36PE61 to describe vegetation change through time. These closely spaced samples track vegetation change during the accumulation of the individual sediment packages. The stratigraphic pollen and phytolith records are anchored by radiocarbon ages of 7780 ± 70 BP near the middle and 9890 ± 40 BP near the bottom of deposits in Test Pit 35 at 36PE16. Sediments from Test Pit 36 at 36PE16 and Test Pit 26.5 at 36PE61 remain undated. Ceramic and steatite artifacts exhibiting residues from 36PE61 were sampled to obtain phytoliths and starches that might provide information concerning plants cooked. In addition, four projectile points and a lithic knife from 36PE61 were examined for possible protein residues resulting from use of these artifacts to hunt/process animals.