PHYTOLlTH, PROTEIN RESIDUE, AND MACROFLORAL ANALYSES, AND AMS RADIOCARBON DATING FOR THE CITY POINT UNIT APPOMATTOX MANOR RESTORATION PROJECT, HOPEWELL, VIRGINIA

Two prehistoric ceramic rim sherds, a soil sample, and a single projectile point/knife
were recovered during Phase III archaeological data recovery at the Appomattox Manor
dwelling house in the City Point Unit of Petersburg National Battlefield in Hopewell, Virginia.
This area is part of a large, multicomponent site. The majority of the ceramic sherds found on
a possible living floor/midden (Feature 4) are believed to be associated with the Varina Netimpressed
variety, which dates to the Middle Woodland II Period. The AMS radiocarbon
analysis conducted on charcoal recovered from Feature 4, as part of this study, yielded an age
of 590 ± 30 BP, indicating a Late Prehistoric occupation. The two ceramic rim sherds were
washed to recover phytoliths and/or starches that would aid in identifying foods cooked using
the ceramic vessels. A soil sample from this feature was floated for macrofloral remains to
determine plant resources available to the occupants of this site. Charcoal identified from the
sample was submitted for AMS radiocarbon analysis. The projectile point/knife was recovered
beneath Feature 4. It exhibits serrated edges and is deemed to be similar to those produced
during the early Archaic period. This artifact was tested for possible protein residues to provide
information concerning animals hunted/processed with the tool.