POLLEN, PHYTOLITH, MACROFLORAL, AND PROTEIN RESIDUE ANALYSIS AT SITE CA-SDI-12557, SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Pollen, phytolith, macrofloral, and protein residue analyses were performed on soil
samples and artifacts from Site CA-SDI-12557 in San Diego County, California. Four pollen
control samples were collected from a stratigraphic column east of the site in an area that is
believed not to have been cultivated. The remaining pollen sample and two macrofloral columns
were recovered from a large living area feature. Twelve phytolith samples and two macrofloral
columns were collected from units scattered throughout the site. Eleven artifacts also were
found scattered throughout the site and were analyzed for possible protein residues.
Immunological studies have shown that protein residues from a tool's surface can be identified
using modified forensic procedures. Control soil samples for ten of these eleven artifacts were
tested. Radiocarbon dates, obsidian hydration results, and diagnostic artifacts suggest that CASDI-
12557 is a Late Period site. It is assumed that the Late Period occupants of the area lived
in permanent villages and migrated to the oak forests in the eastern mountains as part of their
seasonal rounds. There, they are believed to have exploited acorns, deer, and rabbits.

对加利福尼亚州圣迭戈县CA-SDI-12557遗址的土壤样品与人工制品开展了花粉、植硅体（phytolith）、大植物遗存（macrofloral）及蛋白质残留物分析。研究团队从遗址东侧一处被认为未曾经过耕作的地层柱（stratigraphic column）中采集了4份花粉对照样品；剩余的花粉样品与2组大植物遗存剖面，则采自一处大型居住活动遗迹。从散布于整个遗址的探方中，共采集了12份植硅体样品与2组大植物遗存剖面。另在遗址各处散布出土11件人工制品，对其开展了蛋白质残留物检测以探寻相关遗存。免疫学研究（immunological studies）表明，通过改良的法医实验流程（modified forensic procedures）可鉴定出工具表面的蛋白质残留物。针对上述11件人工制品中的10件，同步采集了其对应的对照土壤样品并开展检测。碳十四测年（radiocarbon dates）、黑曜石水化测年结果（obsidian hydration results）以及诊断性人工制品（diagnostic artifacts）的相关信息均表明，CA-SDI-12557属于晚阶段遗址。据推测，该区域晚阶段的居民曾定居于永久性村落，并会在季节性迁徙活动中前往东部山区的橡树林地带；据信他们在此处会采集橡子、捕猎鹿与野兔。