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<br />MAY 1082 <br /> <br />The Four COrners Region - southwest Colorado, southeast Utah, northeast <br /> <br />Arizona and northwest New Mexico - is rich in the Indian ruins and sites of <br /> <br />the Anasazi ("Old Ones"). The Uni versi ty of Colorado, working unde r <br /> <br />contract for the Bureau of l{eclamation, inventoried 592 sites. The sites <br /> <br />vary in extent with surface indications including rock chips, pottery, <br /> <br />pithouses, and remains of pueblos and other structures representing past <br /> <br />occupation of the area from perhaps 2500 B.C. until recent historic times. <br /> <br />Relatively little work has been done previously and information on <br /> <br />prehistoric habitation is meager. <br /> <br />In addition, six sites presumed to be at recent historical age were <br /> <br />found, consisting primarily of Ute or Navajo Indian sweat lodges. <br /> <br />Six properties containing Anasazi ruins are listed on the National <br /> <br />Register of Historic Places: Escalante Ruins (recently restored and now <br /> <br />managed tor the public by the Bureau of Land Management), Hesa Verde <br /> <br />National Park, Ute Mountain Mancos Canyon Historic District, Yucca House <br /> <br />National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, and Lowry Ruin 2/. PrograQ <br /> <br />actions will not affect any known sites. <br /> <br />Climate <br /> <br />The climate is semiarid, characterized by low precipitation, low <br /> <br />humidity, abundant sunshine, a fairly large range in daily and seasonal <br /> <br />temperatures, and moderate westerly winds. Elevation changes cause large <br /> <br />variations in the local climate within short distances, with increases in <br /> <br />precipitation and decreases in temperature from southwest to northeast. <br /> <br />2/ Federal Register, Vol. 41, No. 28 (February 10, 1976), and all monthly <br />supplement s. <br /> <br />II 1-6 <br /> <br />001842 <br />