Jennifer:

If you have not already done so, check out these reports in American Antiquity:

Rossen, Jack 1999 The Flote-Tech Flotation Machine: Messiah or Mixed
Blessing. American Antiquity 64(2):370-372. [good discussion of pros and
cons of the machine for different applications]

Hunter & Gassner Evaluation of the Flote-Tech Machine Assisted Flotation
System. American Antiquity 63(1):143-156.

If you are going to process many samples per day, the flote-tech seems to be
the way to go, provided you have a place to dispose of the fine sediment
left over from the processing. We use one at SRI, and it has the added
environmental advantage of recycling water.

best,

David Palmer
Historical Archaeologist
Statistical Research, Inc.


On Thu, 10 May 2007 08:06:25 -0400, Jennifer M. Faberson
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Just as everyone involved in flotation and paleoethnobotanical study, we too
>are concerned about cross contamination of samples.  That said, the original
>post was intended to gain a better understanding of what others are using
>for flotation and why. I should have made it clear that we were looking for
>general information and opinions on different flotation techniques.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Davis,
>Daniel (KYTC)
>Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 4:21 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Flotation
>
>You can test either for accuracy - and I prefer avoiding contamination.
>
>Daniel B. Davis
>Archaeologist Coordinator
>Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
>Division of Environmental Analysis
>200 Mero Street
>Frankfort, KY 40622
>(502) 564-7250
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
>Jennifer M. Faberson
>Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 4:03 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Flotation
>
>The flotation department at our company is considering developing an
>indoor
>home made flotation tank.  In your professional opinion which is more
>accurate a flot-tech machine (which we are currently using) or a
>homemade
>machine?
>
>
>
>Jennifer M. Faberson
>
>Historic Materials Specialist
>
>Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc.
>
>151 Walton Ave.
>
>Lexington, KY 40508
>
>(859) 252-4737
>
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask]
>
>