ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC RESIDUES (FTIR), MACROFLORAL, CHARCOAL, AND AMS RADIOCARBON DATING FOR SAMPLES FROM TEN SITES ON FORT BLISS, NEW MEXICO

Samples were examined from ten sites (41EP0998, 41EP1023, 41EP1251,41EP2471, 41EP2705, 41EP5665, 41EP5823, 41EP5826, 41EP5831, 41EP5860) located on Fort Bliss in El Paso County, Texas. Twenty-four samples were submitted for charcoal identification. Charcoal from 19 of these samples were chosen for AMS radiocarbon dating. Sediment from five areas of carbon staining at four of the sites was floated to recover charred macrofloral remains. Four pieces of fire-cracked rock and one ceramic sherd from four of the sites were examined for organic residues using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Which will examine these artifacts for evidence of proteins, lipids, and/or carbohydrates.