Dietary and Parasitological Analysis of Coprolites Recovered from Mummy 5, Ventana Cave, Arizona

ABSTRACTFour coprolites were excavated with Burial 5 at Ventana Cave, a partially mummified five-year-old child. Two coprolites were granular and dark in color and two were fibrous and light in color. The coprolites are remains of the child's intestinal contents and were submitted for dietary and parasitological analysis. No parasites were found. The fibrous coprolites proved to be remains of highly masticated mesquite pods (Prosopis). The granular coprolites consist of seeds of saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea). Pollen analysis reveals two dietary pollen types, both derived from cactus. No evidence of cultivated plants except for a trace amount of com pollen was found.