POLLEN ANALYSIS AT THE HARRIS SITE (5MN2341), IN WESTERN COLORADO

The Harris Site is located in a small rockshelter on the east side of
the Uncompahgre Plateau. A single radiocarbon date places occupation of the
shelter and formation of a cultural midden before and after 3500 BP. Eight
pollen samples were collected stratigraphically from midden deposits outside
the shelter. An additional pollen sample was collected from the present
ground surface outside the shelter to act as a control sample for
interpreting the paleoenvironment. Pollen samples were analyzed to address
the paleoenvironment at the time the shelter was occupied and the midden
formed. In addition, it may be possible to identify elements of the midden
representing subsistence activities at this site.

哈里斯遗址坐落于翁坎帕格雷高原东侧的一处小型岩棚中。经单次放射性碳测年（radiocarbon date）测定，该岩棚的人类使用与文化堆积层的形成年代大致处于距今3500年前后。研究人员从岩棚外侧的文化堆积层中按地层学顺序采集了8份花粉样品，另从岩棚外侧的现代地表采集1份花粉样品，作为古环境解释的对照样本。本次花粉样品分析旨在探究该岩棚被使用、文化堆积层形成时期的古环境状况，此外还有望识别出该遗址文化堆积层中反映生计活动的相关组分。