PHYTOLITH ANALYSIS AT THE MENDANALES GARDENS, NEW MEXICO

Gravel mulched gardens with rock borders were sampled for phytoliths at
three prehistoric sites near Mendanales, New Mexico. These gardens have
been the subject of considerable study, including archaeological
excavations, pollen analysis, and physical/chemical soil studies. This
study follows pollen analysis at this site, where maize pollen was recovered
in ten of the twenty-seven samples from garden areas and a single hearth.
Three archaeological sites (LA 48676, LA 48679, and LA 486870) were sampled
for pollen and phytoliths, although the majority of the samples represent a
single site, LA 48679. Phytolith analysis was designed to address which of
these fields was used to grow cultivated crops, specifically maize.

对新墨西哥州门达纳莱斯附近三处史前遗址中带有石质边界的砾石覆盖菜园开展了植硅体（phytoliths）采样工作。此前针对该类菜园已开展过大量研究，涵盖考古发掘、花粉分析与土壤理化研究。本研究接续此前针对该类遗址开展的花粉分析研究：此前在菜园区域与一处灶址的27份样本中，有10份检出了玉米花粉。本次共对三处考古遗址（LA 48676、LA 48679及LA 486870）开展了花粉与植硅体采样，不过绝大多数样本均来自LA 48679这一处遗址。本次植硅体分析旨在探究上述菜园地块中哪一片曾被用于种植栽培作物，具体为玉米。