Residue Analysis of Ten Soil Samples from 38AK46, an Archaic site in a Carolina Bay Report uri icon

Abstract

  • Ten soil samples were extracted from site 38AK46, a multi-component Archaic site on the rim of a Carolina Bay. High concentrations of gastroliths were found at the site, as well as hickory nut charcoal, suggesting the site was used to process hunted birds, perhaps through smoking, over a long period of time. Soil lipids from hearth and non-hearth areas were compared, in order to determine of anthropogenic lipids from bird processing remained in the soil. In general, soil lipids from hearth and non-hearth areas were very similar, and could not be definitively separated. There were some differences in sterols, suggesting that the hearth soils had contained more lipids at one time that were then broken down through fungal and microbial action. There was also an interesting presence of long, odd-chain alkenes in the hearth area soils that is difficult to interpret, but appears to be the most noticeable difference between the two soil types. Plasticizer contamination from the acid-free plastic bags was also very abundant, making interpretation difficult.

Publication Date

  • 2013-08-01