BLOOD PROTEIN RESIDUES ON LITHIC ARTIFACTS FROM 2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE DE LONG MOUNTAINS, NORTHWESTERN ALASKA

Immunological analysis of blood residues was performed on 25 lithic ar tifacts from two archaeological sites (DEL-166 and DEL-168) in the De Long Mountains of northwestern Alaska. Blood residues occur on five ar tifact types: retouched flakes; end scrapers; flake burins; bifaces; a nd wedge-shaped microblade cores. Fourteen (56%) of the 25 analyzed ar tifacts react positively to six animal antisera and to human blood. Be sides human blood, identified residues include the blood of sturgeon ( Acipenseridae), deer (Cervidae), rabbit (Leporidae), bear (Ursus), ''c at'' (Felidae) and ''mouse'' (Rodentia). Although the application of b lood residue analysis to archaeological problems is a relatively new a pplication of an old forensic method, it may provide useful informatio n about artifact function and animal procurement from sites where faun al remains are not preserved.