POLLEN, MACROFLORAL, PROTEIN, AND ORGANIC RESIDUE (FTIR) ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM SITE 42EM53, EMERY COUNTY, UTAH

This Fremont residential site (42EM53) is situated on a ridge top west of Muddy Creek in Castle Valley, a broad valley with a highly varied topography. Samples from activity area fill, hearths, a pit structure, and a storage pit were examined for pollen and macrofloral remains. A fire-cracked rock from the fill of a hearth and a grinding stone from one of the activity areas were examined for organic residues using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). A side scraper from the activity area was analyzed for possible protein residues from plants or animals that were processed with this tool. Pollen, macrofloral, and organic residue analyses were used to provide information concerning plant resources utilized by the site occupants.