JVRP Lab tutorial: Flotation and Paleoethnobotany Lesson Day: May 28th May 26th Lesson Time: 4pm-6pm

(most of the time will be used) 11am-1pm (estimated time of lecture and demonstration) Goal The goal is, after this lesson, for all the students/volunteers to know what flotation is, why flotation is important for archaeology, what kind of information is gathered, how to collect samples, and how to process samples with flotation either working by themselves or in a small group. Objective The objective of this lesson is to have students understand the importance of flotation and the impact it has had in the field in recent years. Students should be able to process samples with little supervision after the tutorial and hands-on lesson is completed. Students should be able to run a flotation sample during afternoon work, just as any other afternoon task. Materials (basic materials used in flotation) Mesh/sieves (2 mm or 1mm and 330 microns or 250 microns) Clothespins Window screen or strainer Baulk string or twist ties Labeling tags Large plastic bags (for samples) Small plastic bags (for floated material) Measuring cup in L and ml Buckets Sharpie Pen and paper for notes Clothesline or paper towel (for drying floated samples) Hose or empty water bottles

Lesson Description An introduction to Paleoethnobotany/Archaeobotany will be given via power point presentation and lecture. Expected lecture time: about 30 minutes Topics that will be introduced are as follows: Definitions of Paleoethnobotany, Dendrochronology, Palynology, phytoliths, archaeobotanical remains, flotation (related to flotation: heavy fraction, light fraction) Brief history of the field. Why the collection and study of archaeobotanical remains is important. What the samples can tell us. How to collect samples. How to process samples via flotation. Lecture will be followed by a hands-on tutorial and practice session of flotation by all the students. First, flotation will be demonstrated, and then students will try their own sample in small groups of 2-3 students. (Note: if time runs out, this can be shown in smaller groups as the dig season goes on during afternoon work sessions) Lesson Procedure / Flotation Procedure 1. Gather and set up materials for flotation. Make sure buckets are clean. Set the finer mesh of .33mm or .25 mm in the strainer and using the clothespins secure the mesh so that the mesh lies over the whole strainer screen. Set the strainer with mesh over an empty bucket. 2. Measure the sample that is to be floated using a measuring cup in L. Make sure to record this measurement for processing purposes. 3. Fill one bucket 2/3 full of clean water. Pour measured sample gently into the bucket of water. Observe the dirt and heavy fraction part of the sample will fall to the bottom of the bucket while the plant and organic matter will float. 4. If there is an abundance of organic floating, then start to slowly and carefully decant the sample by pouring the sample over the lip of the bucket into the strainer (If there is not visible material floating skip to step 5). The small fraction of the sample will be caught in the .33mm or .25mm mesh. Small particles of dirt will go through the mesh, but be careful not to allow any sediment over the lip that will stay in the mesh. It is important that the small fraction sample stay as clean as possible.

5. If there is not a lot of material floating, you can manually agitate the sample in the water with a clean hand by gently wafting your hand through the sample at the bottom of the bucket. Doing this will allow macrobotanical remains to come loose of sediment and float to the top. If you think more water is needed, add more clean water. When done, make sure there is no sample on you! Using a water bottle or hose can help get the sample off you and into the bucket. Let sediment settle in the water for a moment. 6. Decant again. Sometimes when decanting, the sample won't come out or won't float to the edge that you are pouring over. In this case a water bottle or a low pressure hose can assist. If using a water bottle you can pour the water gently to direct the sample to the edge being poured over, or rinse sample from sticking the interior of the bucket. When pouring the water from the bottle, use your hand and fingers to direct the water onto the edge of the bucket or limit the water or water pressure. If using a hose or running water, low pressure water would be best, even a trickle of water will work as long as you are directing the water where you need it. 7. Repeat agitating, adding water and decanting until no macrobotanical remains float. Note-any time the water level gets too high in the bucket with the sample in the mesh, remove the strainer and mesh momentarily, empty bucket, replace strainer and mesh, continue. 8. Remove the clothespins from the strainer and gently gather up the sides/corners of the mesh. Be careful that light fraction sample is not smashed or trapped in the folds of the mesh. Tie off mesh with a twist tie and an information tag. 9. Hang the light fraction with a clothespin on a clothesline in the shade to dry. 10. Set up the strainer with the 2 mm or 1mm mesh for the heavy fraction, using the clothespin just like the .25mm or .33mm mesh. Set strainer over an empty bucket. 11. Take the bucket with the sample and use the "swish and dump" method to pour all of the sample into the strainer with the 1mm mesh. To elaborate- this is more aggressive agitation than used for the light fraction. Swirl or swish the sample in the bucket then quickly and carefully dump all contents into the mesh. If sample/sediment remains in the bucket, add more water, swish and dump again. Careful of the water level under the collected sample. 12. Once all of the sample is out of the bucket and in the mesh, gently rinse all sediment off the heavy fraction. You can rinse the sample by pouring water from a bottle or using a low pressure hose. The sample, when done, should be free of sediment but will most likely be composed of non-botanical remains such as bits of pottery, dense bone, small stones, small artifacts-basically anything too dense to float, which may include some

botanical remains too large and dense to float (large fragments of charcoal may not float for example). 13. When the heavy fraction is clean, gather up the sides and corners of the mesh of your heavy fraction, tie off just like the light fraction and hang on the clothes line to dry with an information tag. Assessment/Evaluation The bulk of the evaluation will be based on the students ability to process a sample via flotation, and have a clean heavy and light fraction result. Additional questions to ask: What information can be gathered via flotation and through the analysis of the materials we gather from this technique? Why is flotation becoming an essential aspect of archaeological projects?