| In order to determine if and what types of animal or vegetable products may have been processed at the sites, a sample of artifacts selected from feature contexts were submitted for Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. FTIR uses infrared spectroscopy to identify absorbence signatures on compounds that adhere to artifacts or sediments, including organic residues from plants and animals. These signatures can then be compared to known signatures in order to identify what types of organic materials were processed with or in association with artifacts or feature fills.
It is important to note that residue matches in the FTIR analysis do not necessarily mean that a specific species of animal is represented by the blood. Rather, the matches should be viewed as representing general categories of animals, for example large or small game, birds, or fish. The FTIR method is especially useful in depositional contexts that have undergone alteration through burning or water-table fluctuations.
The information provided on this website is modified from the manuscript Archaeological Data Recovery for the I-5/SR 502 Interchange Project, by Michele Punke, Terry Ozbun, Jo Reese, and Brian Buchanan (2009). Archaeological Investigations Northwest, Inc. Report No. 2273. Prepared for Washington Department of Transportation Southwest Region, Vancouver, Washington. |