Hill, TanyaHeisler, CharleneSutherland, RalphHunstead, Richard2015-12-132015-12-130004-6256http://hdl.handle.net/1885/94472We present near-infrared spectra for a sample of galaxies with ambiguous optical emission-line ratios. These galaxies fall between starbursts and Seyferts in the usual optical diagnostic diagrams. We find a similar result with the near-infrared emission-line ratios, which suggests that the galaxies are composite, containing both a starburst and an AGN component. Furthermore, CO absorption, produced in late-type stars, is detected within the sample, although at a weaker level than is typical for starburst galaxies. We conclude that the CO feature is being diluted by a contribution from an AGN, thereby confirming the composite nature of these galaxies.Keywords: Galaxies: active; Galaxies: Seyfert; Galaxies: starburstStarburst or Seyfert? Using Near-infrared Spectroscopy to Measure the Activity in Composite Galaxies19992015-12-12