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't:!~IUldl, dllU :'~It:!llIlI'~ 1t:!:'VUI~t:':. WIII"l' the project area. The Dolores River Valley is one of the places visited by the historic Dominguez.Escalante El(pedlllon of 1776. Remains 01 the prehistoric village discovered by the expedition are pre. served as a public facility. In addition, the valley was the home of native Americans for thousands of years previously. Thelf campsites and villages extend all along the river valley and carvings and pictographs decorate the E.,,~.al'on~..t ......0<10.. '-d" """~" .'a.", 'M'~'a' <I.","Il "'.100u'A091!, To recover scientific data from the historical and archaeological resources In lhe prOject area, the Water and Power Resources Service has Imple- menled the Dolores Projecl Cuttural Resources Mlhgation Program. Water and Power has contracted With the UniverSity of Colorado for the work necessary 10 minimize the adverse effects of construction on the cultural resources of the area. The major occupation of the project area was that of the prehistOriC Anasazi people, and the primary research 01 the Dolores PrOject Cultural Resources Mitigation Program will focus on the Anasazl culture. Archaeological work, under the dlrec. tlon of the University of Colorado. began rn the prOject area In 1972. ThIS work was mainly focused on site survey-Iocatrng all histoncal and archaeological resources. Excavalton has recently begun on those sites whIch will be destroyed or flooded Analysis and rnterpretatlon 01 the inlormallon recovered in surveys and excavation is underway, The Ilndrngs of this ambitious undertaking will be reponed to the archaeological pro. lession and to the public. Areas 01 Investigation The Dolores Project Cullural Resources Mitigation Program has identified -- - - dl!::d, WIII(.;II IId~ ~tm rt:l,;ulUetJ i:I~ Ult: Anasazi Archaeological District in the National RegiSter of H,stonc Places, Modern Euro-American settlement began rn the 1880's and the Dolores Valley was a favored homestead loca. tlon. The towns of Big Bend and McPhee were established as local timber processing centers. Because of theJr potential histOrical importance, both townsites are being conSidered for nominallon to the National ~egistef 01 Historic Places. five areas of study critical to under. standing the ancient Anasazi farming communities. To understand the economy and adap. ratIon 01 the Anasatl, the natural resources that were available to them in the projec! area muSl first be identified, ResearCh Will Include studies 01 how lhese resources were collected, proc. essed, consumed, and discarded. The economic role 01 domeslic plants and ammals is also viewed by program archaeologists as imponant. The re. searChers will develop a piclure of hOw the Anasazi people Interacted With their environment and made their living Program scientists are also trying to establish how many people were liVing in the prOject area during prehistoriC time, and hOw lhis populallon was dlstnbuted. Preliminary paleodemo- graphiC work Indicates that population levels dunng the Anasazi occupation may have been greater than during modern limes. UniverSity of Colorado archaeologists are also Interested In deSCribing the phYSical characteristics and health of Ihe prehistOriC people The SOCial orgamzation and settlement parterns of the Anasazl are Of great interest In reconstructing the peflQd, Archaeological researCh Will allempt 10 correlate responsible social groups and indiViduals With observed actiVities. The - \..,Q.oraao U1VlSlon 01 I""lsn ana uame indicate that It is a wintering area lor large numbers of deer and elk, and for bald eagles as well. The Water and Power Resources Service Service has made a substantial commitment to assess the resources of the valley and to preserve or protect them for future generallons through recovery 01 valuable scientific data, ~ I. ',~ '. ._, _'" A' ~...". ..- ""~l" """',, ~I ,..,"".... Vol'''''' ~'I" S''''d'l'' 01" '-,'~ ~~n """~Ie~ Im,''''''''~~' SCientists seek to understand what aclillities were practiced In particular locations inSide and outs,de the villages, and whether Anasazi groups moved from place to place during the year rn search of food and other resources. Another basic research approach adopted by program scientists is the identification and interpretation of styles and matenals which may have been Imported by !he Anasaz. from other areas. The researchers are also interested in determining whether locally derrved materials or ideas have been recognized In other cultures and in other parts of the country. ThiS inter. malion gives archaeotogists clues to economiC and polItical relarlOnshlps with outside groups m areas such as New Mexico. Utah, and Arizona. Program archaeologIsts are allemptlng 10 understand how and why cultures changed through time. The first step is identification of the cultural changes which occurred In the Dolores area: then the causes tor those changes WIll be sought. The reasons lor the develOp- ment 01 a farming economy and the abrupt abandonment of the area by the Anasazi people in the 12th and 13th centuries A.D. will be of malOI mterest. - ---- --