POLLEN AND STARCH ANALYSIS OF STRATIGRAPHIC SEDIMENTS AND FEATURES AT 48UT375, WYOMING

Site 48UT375 exhibits evidence of four human occupations, three of which range in age from Paleoindian to Middle Archaic, while the fourth remains undated. Stratigraphic analysis of twelve samples from site 48UT375, which yielded radiocarbon ages ranging from 4030 to 4220 BP for the upper component and 8300 to 8600 BP for the lower component, yielded a pollen record reflecting changes in local vegetation. In addition, examination of features representing the upper occupation provided a pollen record to compare with the stratigraphic record in an effort to identify plants that might have been processed. While examining these samples for pollen, starches were recorded to further boost the record of economic activity.遗址48UT375发现有四次人类活动遗存，其中三次的年代跨度从古印第安期（Paleoindian）至中古风期（Middle Archaic），第四次遗存的年代尚未确定。研究人员对该遗址的12份样品开展地层分析，其上部文化堆积的放射性碳定年结果介于距今4030至4220年，下部文化堆积则为距今8300至8600年；本次分析同时获取了反映当地植被变化的孢粉记录。此外，针对对应上部人类活动期的考古遗迹开展的勘查，同样获得了孢粉记录，以与地层记录进行比对，进而识别可能曾被人类加工利用的植物类群。在对上述样品开展孢粉分析的过程中，研究人员还同步记录了淀粉粒遗存，以进一步丰富该遗址的生计活动相关研究记录。