POLLEN, MACROFLORAL, AND PROTEIN RESIDUE ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM SITES IN THE NORTH MINE EXTENSION AREA, CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA

Pollen, macrofloral, and protein residue analyses were performed on soil samples and artifacts from eleven sites in the North Mine Extension Area, Mercer County, North Dakota. The fifteen pollen samples and four macrofloral samples were collected from hearth features, with the exception of samples from a possible cache pit (Feature 1) at Site 32ME1364. The pollen samples were systematically collected from five features at five different sites, with three pollen samples being collected from the vicinity of each feature; one within the feature fill and two outside the feature itself. All features were uncovered within the interior of stone rings or from possible cairns. Pollen and macrofloral analyses are used to provide information concerning plants that may have been processed in these features. Eighteen artifacts from within various stone rings also were analyzed for possible protein residues. Immunological studies have shown that protein residues from a tool's surface can be identified using modified forensic procedures. Protein residue analysis can provide information concerning prehistoric faunal resources that were utilized.本研究针对北达科他州默瑟县北矿区扩展区11处遗址的土壤样本与人工制品，依次开展了孢粉分析（pollen analysis）、大植物遗存分析（macrofloral analysis）与蛋白质残留物分析（protein residue analysis）。本次共采集15份花粉样本与4份大植物遗存样本，除32ME1364遗址疑似窖藏坑（遗迹1）的样本外，其余均采自火塘遗迹。花粉样本采用系统采样方法，从5处不同遗址的5个遗迹中获取：每个遗迹周边共采集3份花粉样本，其中1份采自遗迹充填物内部，另外2份采自遗迹本体外侧。所有遗迹均发现于石圈内部或疑似积石堆遗迹中。孢粉与大植物遗存分析可用于揭示这些遗迹中可能存在的植物加工活动相关信息。此外，研究人员还对不同石圈中出土的18件人工制品进行了蛋白质残留物检测。免疫学研究表明，借助改良后的法医实验流程，可识别工具表面附着的蛋白质残留物。蛋白质残留物分析能够为探究史前人类所利用的动物资源提供关键信息。