POLLEN AND PHYTOLITH ANALYSIS OF SAMPLES FROM A STRATIGRAPHIC TRENCH, PROJECT 560-001, FT. BLISS, TEXAS

Pollen and phytolith analyses were undertaken on three samples from an off-site
stratigraphic profile to provide a description of local and regional vegetation that could be
interpreted to provide paleoenvironmental information. This profile was exposed in a backhoe
trench located offsite, but near a Mesilla Phase archaeological site at Ft. Bliss, Texas. The trench
transected five strata that appear to be a buried paleosol overlain by a recent eolian sand sheet.
The paleosol consists of a buried A horizon, a buried B horizon texturally divided into two subunits,
and a C horizon. Single samples were examined from individual buried A and both B units at
depths of 40, 60, and 90 centimeters below surface, rather than examining contiguous samples at
close intervals.

本研究对一处遗址外地层剖面的三份样品开展了孢粉与植硅体（phytolith）分析，旨在刻画当地及区域植被特征，进而解译古环境信息。该剖面暴露于一处挖掘机开挖的探沟中，探沟位于得克萨斯州布利斯堡（Ft. Bliss）一处梅西亚期（Mesilla Phase）考古遗址附近的遗址外区域。该探沟横切揭露了五层地层，其整体为一套埋藏古土壤，之上覆盖有近代风成砂席（eolian sand sheet）。这套埋藏古土壤包含埋藏A层、经质地划分为两个亚层的埋藏B层，以及C层。本研究分别在地表下40、60、90厘米的深度处，从单个埋藏A层以及两个B层地层单元中采集单份样品进行分析，而非在近距离间隔内采集连续样品。