NTAS 02.08.2024 Dr. Charles Frederick "Our Dark Materials"

Guest Speaker: Dr. Charles Frederick

Topic: "Our Dark Materials Exploring the role of water in the preservation of organic matter associated with fine earth fraction of prehistoric earth oven facilities"

Over the last two decades analysis of the rocks (FCR) and artifacts associated with earth oven facilities (some of which are called burned rock middens) have produced insights into the behaviors that created these features. The fine earth fraction, which is typically black, sometimes greasy feeling, has generally been ignored. This presentation compares the fine-earth of a typical burned rock midden in Crane County, Texas (41CR56), with the fine-earth residues from earth ovens in Eagle Cave (41VV167), which have been nearly completely protected from exposure to water. This presentation is the first effort to better understand what comprises the ubiquitous black earth of burned rock middens, and how water changes them through time.