POLLEN ANALYSIS AT THE INDIAN MOUNTAIN SITE (5BL876), BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO

Pollen analysis was undertaken in conjunction with the archaeological mitigation of six tipi rings in Boulder County, Colorado. The Indian Mountain site (5BL876) is located on the Dakota hogback approximately 6 miles east of Lyons and 1 mile north of st. Vrain Creek. The site is situated in a clearing where the vegetation consists primarily of grasses, yucca, and prickly pear cactus. The surrounding vegetation also includes ponderosa pine and oak brush to the northwest of the site. This area has never been cultivated, but has been used to graze cattle. Pollen analysis of several samples from Ring 4 and the hearth of Ring 3 was focused on the identification of subsistence materials that may have been present, as well as the identification of the native vegetation in the area at the time the site was occupied. Radiocarbon dates were obtained from two of the tipi rings from this site. Tipi Ring 4 dated to 2140 BP +/- 200 (410 BC to AD 25), while the hearth of Tipi Ring 3 dated to 1120 BP +/- 200 (AD 640 to 1050).本研究配合科罗拉多州博尔德县6处 tipi环（tipi ring）的考古抢救性处理工作开展了孢粉分析。印第安山遗址（5BL876）坐落于达科他脊状高地，距离里昂以东约6英里、圣弗莱恩溪以北1英里处。该遗址位于一片开阔地带，原生植被以草本植物、丝兰（yucca）以及梨果仙人掌（prickly pear cactus）为主，遗址西北方向的周边区域还分布有黄松（ponderosa pine）与灌丛栎。该区域从未被开垦过，但曾被用于放牧牛群。本次针对4号 tipi环与3号 tipi环灶台采集的多份样品开展孢粉分析，旨在识别遗址存续期间当地可能存在的生计资源，同时鉴定人类占据该遗址时期该区域的原生植被种类。研究获取了该遗址两处 tipi环的放射性碳定年结果：4号 tipi环的定年结果为距今2140±200年（公元前410年至公元25年），而3号 tipi环灶台的定年结果为距今1120±200年（公元640年至1050年）